Is Toronto Raptors’ Jonas Valančiūnas a future All-Star?

By Andrew Melnick | Sep 13, 2014

May 4, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) during a break in the action against the Brooklyn Nets in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Brooklyn defeated Toronto 104-103. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Toronto Raptors had a fantastic 2013-2014 season. They won the Atlantic Division and earned the third-seed in the Eastern Conference before falling to the Brooklyn Nets in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. One of the reasons for their success has been the development of center Jonas Valančiūnas. Valančiūnas has been playing for Lithuania in the FIBA World Cup and has looked very good.

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Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com doesn’t necessarily see Valančiūnas as a future All-Star but is hopeful he will continue to improve.

"He’s always been a very good international player, so nothing surprising there. All-Star is awfully optimistic, especially considering there wasn’t all that much growth between years one and two except in terms of playing time. I am more hopeful about Valanciunas’ upside than the numbers are."

With the Raptors re-signing reserve point guard Greivis Vásquez, forward Patrick Patterson and most importantly, point guard Kyle Lowry, the Raptors should continue to make noise in the Eastern Conference. With high-scoring guard DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors are a formidable opponent and they will be counting on the development of Valančiūnas and swingman Terrance Ross to continue to improve in the East.

Last season, Valančiūnas averaged 11.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 assists per game while shooting 53.1% from the field and 76.2% from the free throw line. Over the course of his two-year career, the fifth-overall pick in the first of the 2011 NBA Draft, has put up 10.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 0.7 assists per game while shooting 54.0% from the floor and 77.3% from the charity stripe.

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