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AS Monaco center Donatas Motiejunas extended his contract with the team for two more seasons, the club announced. The Lithuanian big man has been playing for the team since 2021. “I am extremely happy to stay in Monaco to try to achieve this goal [of winning the EuroLeague], to try to realize this dream,” Motiejunas said per Monaco. “You know how hard I worked on the court last year, how hard I live every day, I love our fans. I love the city of Monaco. I am very happy. For me, Monaco is my second home.”
The really “important” win came in the 2004 Athens Olympics, when Lithuania was the reigning European champions and led by Sarunas Jasikevicius beat a team that included among others, Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson. That’s why beating the USA again is not a small feat for Lithuania, as Donatas Motiejunas admitted, speaking about his childhood memories: “I was a kid at that time, I was 14 years old so I remember watching the game and it was something spectacular. Like I said from the first day we are here to bring joy to our people, to our basketball and I know how crazy it’s right now in Lithuania. And I really loved that we, as a team, can bring this joy to our people”.
Former Rockets player Donatas Motiejunas re-signed with French team AS Monaco until the 2024-25 season.
Kemba Walker to Europe
After finalizing a contract extension with Donatas Motiejunas, Monaco has announced the signing of the 12-year NBA veteran, Kemba Walker, for the upcoming season. This is a significant move for the French champions, who have already secured the signings of Terry Tarpey, Petr Cornelie, and Mam Jaiteh this summer.
Lithuania have announced a 10-game warmup schedule for the World Cup, so there will be ample opportunity to evaluate players as Maksvytis puts his team together. They will take on Jordan (twice), Ukraine, Georgia, Finland (twice), France (twice), Puerto Rico and Latvia. Lithuania extended roster for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023: Jonas Valanciunas, Gytis Radzevicius, Rokas Jokubaitis, Tomas Dimsa, Ignas Brazdeikis, Eigirdas Zukauskas, Margiris Normantas, Donatas Motiejunas, Tadas Sedekerskis, Eimantas Bendzius, Donatas Tarolis, Martynas Sajus, Vaidas Kariniauskas, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Laurynas Birutis.
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Donatas Motiejunas calls out Pistons for voiding Bol Bol trade
After learning that the Pistons voided the Bol Bol deal, Motiejunas spoke out about the situation. "I was failed on physicals and told by Detroit doctors I will not play basketball again. Six years later, I am still here and have many years to go," Motiejunas tweeted. "They [are] destroying young players' names and futures in [the] NBA by doing this..."
Motiejunas has spent the last few years playing overseas, and he pointed out that his value took a hit after the Pistons' doctors determined that he failed his physical. "No one looked at me the same after that situation," he tweeted. "How many times [will] the NBPA let this happen? They are destroying young players' careers... When stuff like that happens, you [can't] stay quiet."
Donatas Motiejunas to France
Donatas Urbonas: Former NBA player Donatas Motiejunas is set for the EuroLeague return. The 30-year-old big man is heading to AS Monaco for a one-year deal, per sources. More on @BasketNews_com
Paul Garcia: To open cap space, the Spurs renounced the cap holds to the following players: Trey Lyles Patty Mills Quincy Pondexter Donatas Motiejunas David Lee Joffrey Lauvergne Ben Moore Darrun Hilliard Rudy Gay Gorgui Dieng Dante Cunningham Matt Costello Marco Belinelli
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Zhang Duo: Shanghai GM : Donatas Motiejunas requested for extra salary for remaining games and also a new deal for next season, but the team didn't want to re-sign with him before the season ends. So they parted ways with each other these days.
Donatas Motiejunas: So, the whole trip home was intense. I’m worried and trying to make sure that I wash my hands and that I don’t touch nothing. I was kind of paranoid. When I came back home, a lot of people looked at it as a joke. Me and my coach kept telling all of the people, “Hey guys, let’s hope this thing isn’t gonna come to this country because the joke is going to be over as soon as it starts.” Sure enough, two months later, all the way from China it comes to Europe and now my government closes the borders, tried to take action. Like you said yourself, the States didn’t take it seriously and Europe also didn’t take it seriously. We started looking when it had already happened. Right now, the only thing we can do is try to contain it and try to keep it from spreading.
I know you had a brief stint with the San Antonio Spurs last April, but then you returned to the CBA. Under the right circumstances, would you want to return to the NBA at some point? Donatas Motiejunas: Oh, of course. No question. The NBA is the strongest league in the world and I think every player’s goal should be to go over there. If it’s the right opportunity, I’ll definitely consider it and I would love to be a part of it.
As of now, among those who have returned to China are Lin, Ty Lawson, Donatas Motiejunas, Sonny Weems, Kyle Fogg, Pooh Jeter, Marko Todorovic, Antonio Blakeney and Ekpe Udoh. More are expected to return in upcoming days. Hamed Haddadi -- a former NBA center and a veteran of the CBA -- is currently held up in his home country of Iran, where the pandemic has also hit hard. His team Nanjing is working with the Chinese Embassy in Iran to aid in his return.
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