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Toronto Raptors: 25 Best Players To Play For The Raptors

By Phil Watson

May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre with t-shirts laid out on seats in a Canadian flag pattern prior to Toronto Raptors hosting Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre with t-shirts laid out on seats in a Canadian flag pattern prior to Toronto Raptors hosting Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reaches to block a shot from Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reaches to block a shot from Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

81. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 5th overall pick from Vilnius Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania), 2012 NBA Draft.. C. 2012-16. Jonas Valanciunas. 5. player

Jonas Valanciunas came to the NBA from Lithuania with an impressive track record, earning FIBA Europe MVP honors at the U16, U18 and U19 continental championships and was named the Rising Star of the 2012 Eurocup.

The Toronto Raptors took Valanciunas with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and signed him in July 2012.

TOR_05_VALANCIUNAS
TOR_05_VALANCIUNAS /

He was an All-Rookie selection for the Raptors in 2012-13 and finished second in the NBA in field-goal percentage in 2014-15.

Last season, Valanciunas was limited to 60 games during the regular season because of a broken hand, averaging 12.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 26.0 minutes per game on .565/—/.761 shooting.

He then sat out eight games in the playoffs because of a sprained ankle.

Valanciunas was, however, huge when available–averaging a double-double (13.8 points/10.8 rebounds) in just 26.8 minutes a night.

In four seasons in Toronto, Valanciunas has averaged 11.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 26.2 minutes per game, shooting .556/0-for-2/.774.

He signed a five-year extension of his rookie contract in August 2015, with the final season in 2019-20 a player option.

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