Raptors coach Casey on Valanciunas' DUI charge: 'I'm upset with him'

Toronto Raptors coaches, management and players came to Jonas Valanciunas' defense in the wake of the Raptors center's arrest on Monday morning on a driving under the influence charge.

"Like I told him, I’m upset with him,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey told reporters after Tuesday's practice. “I’m disappointed with him. But he’s mine. So we love him."

"He made a mistake, like any other young man has probably done before," Casey added. "We don’t condone it. The organization doesn’t condone it. It’s a tough time of the year to do it. But it happened. It’s going through the process now."

Valanciunas is scheduled to appear in court on April 22, although he will not have to attend because this is a summary offense. A lawyer can stand in for him unless the case goes to trial, according to the National Post.

The 21-year-old was arrested and charged in the early hours of Monday morning after open beer bottles were found in his vehicle in Wasaga Beach, a community north of Toronto.

General manager Masai Ujiri said Valanciunas understands he made an error in judgment.

“He sat in my office there [on Monday] and you can’t believe it: He knew, face in his hands, that he was sorry about it,” Ujiri said. 

“He did make a mistake. We don’t condone it but we’re supportive of one of our players, a young player. It’s something we’re aware of as an organization maybe we have to mentor or manage better.”

Point guard Kyle Lowry said Valanciunas addressed the team about the incident.

“He just apologized. It was a mistake that he made," Lowry said. "It’s unfortunate that it happened to such a good kid in JV, but it happened. He’s 21, he’s going to learn from it and I’m sure he’s never going to make that mistake again.”