Jonas Valanciunas can’t escape the play-in game, literally

Jonas Valanciunas can’t escape the play-in game, literally

Nearly five years ago, the NBA introduced the play-in tournament to add more excitement to the postseason in the bubble, allowing the No. 8 and 9 seeds in each conference to compete for a playoff spot if they were within a certain number of games of one another.

Well, ahead of the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, the NBA kicked it up a notch, allowing the 7-10 seeds at the end of the regular season to compete for a playoff spot. That same structure has been in place ever since.

The play-in product hasn’t always been the best. Though it’s added some intrigue for certain teams heading into the postseason, which begins six days after the conclusion of the regular season.

While a mix of teams–such as the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks–have partaken in the play-in plenty, only one NBA player has had the (mis)fortune of appearing in it each season: Jonas Valanciunas, who will make his sixth-straight appearance with the Kings this week.

Jonas Valanciunas:

2020 — Play-In
2021 — Play-In
2022 — Play-In
2023 — Play-In
2024 — Play-In
2025 — Play-In pic.twitter.com/tDph1eMiaP

— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 13, 2025

Valanciunas’s teams are 5-3 all-time in the play-in, making the playoffs in three of his five seasons. In those eight games, the 6-foot-10 big man is averaging 15.4 points and 14.4 rebounds on 52.7 percent shooting and 56.7 percent true shooting.

I can’t speak for the players, coaches or anyone directly involved with the teams who participate in the play-in. But being a fan of a team consistently in the play-in sucks. I would imagine that, for the players, it’s another opportunity to get one step closer to making the playoffs and competing for a title. You can’t think about it any other way. Competitors compete.

Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was ESPN’s most viewed non-Christmas Day game of season

He was acquired by the Sacramento Kings from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Sidy Cissoko and two second-round picks ahead of February’s trade deadline. He signed a three-year team-friendly deal with Washington last summer, doing a respectable job backing up No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr before he was dealt.

Sacramento, who finished as the No. 9 seed at 40-42, will host the gasping Dallas Mavericks in the 9-10 play-in game on Wednesday; should it win, it will face the loser of the Warriors/Grizzlies on Friday.

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