Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas continues stellar play for Lithuania at FIBA World Cup

Jonas Valanciunas is putting in work at the FIBA World Cup, which is a promising sign for the future of the Toronto Raptors.

Valanciunas has played a major part in powering Lithuania to the semifinal and a matchup with Team USA on Thursday. The 22-year-old centre leads the team in points (12.9 PPG) and rebounds (8.6 RPG) and is shooting 73% from the field.

“Jonas played really well and that's what we expected,” Lithuanian coach Jonas Kazlauskas told the Associated Press. “He has gotten stronger and has more experience. Now he respects his opponents even more and knows the price of every game.”

Going up against Turkish centre Omer Asik, who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA, Valanciunas scored 12 points and grabbed 13 boards in 27 minutes as he led Lithuania to a 73-61 win in the quarterfinal. He looks physically stronger and continues to improve as a defender while also gaining confidence in his offensive game.

His role for the Lithuanian national team has grown. He's now his country's featured star, and expects the World Cup experience and the demands of playing for his country will be hugely beneficial for his NBA career.

“I’m going to come back to Toronto ready for the season,” Valanciunas told the Toronto Star. “It’s like preparation for the season, you know, by playing against the best centres in all of Europe and all the world. So, it’s giving me a lift.”

With Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan locked up for the next three years, the Raptors are committed to their current core after they reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008. They have the makings of a team that should be good for a long while, and Valanciunas' progress will have a huge impact on just how good they can be.

The Raptors have high hopes for their young big man, and his performances on the international stage are definitely encouraging. If Valanciunas takes the next step, it would help accelerate the process in Toronto.

Taking on DeRozan and Team USA will be another good test.