Memphis Grizzlies: 3 unsung heroes so far in the 2020-21 season
Memphis Grizzlies unsung hero No. 3: Jonas Valanciunas
It’s hard to call Jonas Valanciunas an unsung hero to some degree — he’s third in minutes behind Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks. But somehow, he still doesn’t seem to get the recognition he deserves.
When talking about the best centers in the league, you’ll generally think of players like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic. There are a handful of other guys whose names can be thrown around in that conversation, but it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll hear Jonas Valanciunas brought up.
But his name should be brought up. Throughout a season without Jaren Jackson Jr. in the lineup, Valanciunas has stepped into the number two role for this team.
He has become a lock for a double-double in each game, slowly becoming one of the best rebounders in this league. His double-double streak is at 9 games with no signs of coming to an end anytime soon.
More specifically, the man is unstoppable on the offensive glass. He’s third in the NBA in offensive rebounds, and as of late, it seems like he pulls in a board on the offensive end on every other possession.
He’s also second on the team in points behind Morant. Efficiency-wise, he’s the best scorer on this team and it’s not even close. In fact, when you look at more advanced statistics, you’ll find that he leads the Memphis Grizzlies in Player Efficiency Rating.
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Among every player on this team, the Lithuanian center has to be the most improved from a year ago. He has taken an opportunity as the Grizzlies’ sole big man and he’s running with it.