By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A huge boost for Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv with Johnathan Motley joining the team coached by Stefanos Dedas.
The Reds announced on Tuesday that Motley penned a two-year contract.
A fourth newcomer, following Oz Blayzer, Joe Ragland, and Guy Palatin, he was widely expected to find a deal in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and launch a third consecutive campaign in Europe’s premier club continental competition. Instead, Motley switched to the second-tier league of Euroleague Basketball.
“This is a player with a unique set of abilities in defense and offense that will make us much stronger on the court,” commented general manager Giorgos Hinas, “This signing clearly displays how high our ambitions are for the next season.”
Motley, 29, averaged 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest over 72 games played with Fenerbahce Beko through the 2022-23 and 2023-24 installments of the EuroLeague. Competing in the 2021-22 edition of 7DAYS EuroCup, he tallied 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.9 steals per contest over nine appearances with Lokomotiv Kuban.
The Houston native spent three years at Baylor, from 2014 to 2017. From the NCAA to the NBA, he made his way to 46 games in the top league of the world between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers. Using his overseas options, he went from South Korea’s KBL to the EuroCup, and from there jumped to Fener. Concluding his stint with the Istanbul outfit, he was crowned Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi champion.