“Confidence and humility”: the experienced Lithuanian pivot of Monaco Donatas Motiejunas, 31, one of the men of the revival of the “Roca Team”, knows that the challenge will be difficult to meet on Friday against Real Madrid, leaders of the Euroleague and ogre of competition.
Nothing seems to be stopping Monaco in the Euroleague right now. After a big air hole (seven defeats in eight matches) which cost his place to coach Zvezdan Mitrovic, the “Roca Team” has just chained four convincing victories. The last, in Saint-Petersburg (86-77), even makes him a serious candidate for the Top 8.
“We have regained confidence, that’s for sure,” Lithuanian Motiejunas, a pillar with Mike James and Dwayne Bacon of new coach Sasa Obradovic’s team, told AFP.
“But we know the talent of Real Madrid, its physical and offensive strengths”, continues the pivot. “We remain humble in front of them, far from any excess of confidence.”
Motiejunas, however, believes Monaco can compete with the best team in Europe, “provided they do a little more”. “That is to say, fight on all the balls, systematically help the teammate, defend stronger, master our systems and want to prove our collective level.”
– Released by Obradovic –
Moreover, for him, “the next three matches will define Monaco’s future in the Euroleague”. “With three wins against Madrid, Kazan and Panathinaikos, we can manage to grab the Top 8, but it will be very complicated,” he admits.
Motiejunas has just spent five seasons in the NBA (262 games), then four more in China. After a time of rehabilitation to the harshness of the European parquet floors, everything has changed for him since the arrival of Obradovic.
“Sasa (Obradovic) is passionate, crazy about basketball, and he transmits it”, he underlines. “Everything was going wrong. He has restored discipline, order tactically, mentally and physically. He pushes for extreme concentration. Defense has become a priority. That suits me.”
Averaging more than 17 points over the last four matches, Motiejunas has won consistently, as he occasionally performed on a five-minute streak before disappearing.
“I didn’t recognize myself,” he admits. “However, I was physically good. But Sasa quickly understood my qualities. He helped me on the offensive level. I have a specific role and credit in the team, everyone knows how to play with me. And I’m finally on my level.”
– “Mark the history of the club” –
That level made him a vital part of the Houston Rockets in 2014-15, before he was denied a four-year, $37 million contract at the Detroit Pistons for failing to pass the medical. What he still considers an injustice.
Since then, Motiejunas has bounced back in China where he has chained the seasons. “It’s very intense there,” he said. “Foreigners are asked to play every minute. I encourage those who denigrate this championship to watch it carefully.”
Having become a star in China, where he kept “very many friends” and where he “became a better human being”, this globetrotter did not hesitate to accept a year’s contract in Monaco in a radically opposite context.
“It’s much quieter here,” he smiles. “But if the change is huge, the objectives are the same: to win a title. I want my work to be recognized and mark the history of the club so that in 10 years, I will be remembered.”
“The opportunities in the NBA have passed now”, so Motiejunas wants to optimize his time in Monaco. Moreover, his return to Europe is also of interest to the new Lithuanian coach, Kazys Maksvytis. “We spoke together. If necessary, I’m ready. But he has a lot of good players”, concludes, always humble, the 2013 European vice-champion.
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