Johnathan Motley

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Johnathan Motley

| image = Johnathan Motley 0 Fenerbahçe Basketball 20220925 (9) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Motley with Fenerbahçe Beko in 2022

| position = Center / power forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 230

| league = Israeli Premier League

| team = Hapoel Tel Aviv

| number = 0

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|5|4}}

| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.

| high_school = North Shore (Houston, Texas)

| college = Baylor (2014–2017)

| draft_year = 2017

| career_start = 2017

| career_end =

| years1 = {{nbay|2017|full=y}}

| team1 = Dallas Mavericks

| years2 = 2017–2018

| team2 = →Texas Legends

| years3 = {{nbay|2018|start}}–{{nbay|2019|end}}

| team3 = Los Angeles Clippers

| years4 = 2018–2020

| team4 = →Agua Caliente Clippers

| years5 = 2021

| team5 = Incheon ET Land Elephants

| years6 = 2021–2022

| team6 = Lokomotiv Kuban

| years7 = 2022–2024

| team7 = Fenerbahçe Beko

| years8 = 2024–present

| team8 = Hapoel Tel Aviv

| highlights =

EuroCup champion (2025)
EuroCup Finals MVP (2025)
All-EuroCup First Team (2025)
Turkish League champion (2024)
Turkish Cup winner (2024)
All-Turkish League First Team (2023)
All-VTB United League Second Team (2022)
3× All-NBA G League Second Team (2018–2020)
Consensus second-team All-American (2017)
Karl Malone Award (2017)
First-team All-Big 12 (2017)
Third-team All-Big 12 (2016)

}}

Johnathan Landus Motley (born May 4, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League. He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears, where he was a consensus second-team All-American as a junior.

High school career

Motley played high school basketball at North Shore High School in Houston, Texas under head coach David Green. He led his team to a 32–4 mark as a junior and a 30–5 mark in as a senior, winning back to back district championships. A top 100 recruit nationally, Motley committed to play at Baylor on September 12, 2012.{{cite web |title=Baylor University 2016-17 Men's Basketball Roster |url=http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/johnathan_motley_853835.html |website=baylorbears.com |access-date=2019-04-05 |archive-date=2017-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526192113/http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/johnathan_motley_853835.html |url-status=dead }}

College career

File:Johnathan Motley.jpg

Motley blossomed into an All-American player as a junior for Baylor, leading the Bears to their first number one ranking as a program during the 2016–17 season.{{cite magazine|last1=Hamilton|first1=Brian|title=Erratic no more: How Johnathan Motley became the centerpiece Baylor needed|url=https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/03/22/johnathan-motley-baylor-bears-ncaa-tournament|access-date=April 12, 2017|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=March 22, 2017}} At the close of the season, Motley was named the winner of the Karl Malone Award as the country's best college power forward.{{cite news|last1=Grosbard|first1=Adam|title=Baylor's Johnathan Motley wins Karl Malone Award as nation's best power forward|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/baylorbears/2017/04/07/baylors-johnathan-motley-wins-karl-malone-award-nations-best-power-forward|access-date=April 12, 2017|work=Dallas Morning News}}

At the close of his junior season, Motley declared his eligibility for the 2017 NBA draft but did not hire an agent, leaving open the option to return to college.{{cite news|title=Baylor's Motley puts name in NBA draft without hiring agent|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/baylor-bears/article143871019.html|access-date=April 12, 2017|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=April 10, 2017}} He would later hire an agent before signing up for the 2017 NBA Draft Combine, thus ending any chances of returning for his senior year at Baylor.

Professional career

=Dallas Mavericks (2017–2018)=

After going undrafted in 2017 NBA draft, Motley signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks.{{cite news|last1=Karalla|first1=Bobby|title=Mavericks sign Johnathan Motley to two-way contract|url=https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-sign-johnathan-motley-two-way-contract/|work=NBA.com|access-date=July 3, 2017|date=July 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214015/https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-sign-johnathan-motley-two-way-contract/|archive-date=August 4, 2017|url-status=dead}} He became the first player in franchise history to sign such a deal. As a result, he got to split his time playing between the Mavericks and their G League affiliate, the Texas Legends. After recovering from a previous injury he had, Motley would make his official NBA debut on December 14, 2017, recording 4 points in two minutes under a 112–97 loss to the defending champion Golden State Warriors. On April 4, 2018, he scored a career high 26 points in a 106–113 loss to the Detroit Pistons.{{cite news|title=Jackson scores 24 as Pistons beat Mavericks 113-106 in OT|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400975927|work=NBA.com|access-date=April 4, 2018|date=April 4, 2018}}

=Los Angeles Clippers (2018–2020)=

On July 23, 2018, Motley, along with the draft rights to Renaldas Seibutis, was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for the draft rights to Maarty Leunen and cash considerations.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/clippers/press-release-la-clippers-acquire-two-way-forward-johnathan-motley|title=Press Release: L.A. Clippers Acquire Two-Way Forward Johnathan Motley|work=NBA.com|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 23, 2018}} He would be the league's first ever two-way contract to be traded to another team. Motley would become an unrestricted free agent on June 28, 2019{{cite web|title=NBAREPORT: Clippers decline qualifying offer for Johnathan Motley|url=https://clutchpoints.com/clippers-news-la-declines-qualifying-offer-for-johnathan-motley/|website=clutchpoints.com|access-date= June 28, 2019|date= June 28, 2019}} but the Clippers eventually re-signed him on July 25, 2019.{{cite web|title=Report: Clippers re-sign Johnathan Motley to 2-way contract|url=https://clutchpoints.com/clippers-news-la-re-signs-johnathan-motley-2-way-contract/|website=clutchpoints.com|date= July 25, 2019}}

On November 30, 2020, Motley signed a training camp deal with the Phoenix Suns,{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/suns/suns-sign-moore-galloway-jones-0|title=SUNS SIGN MOORE, GALLOWAY, & JONES|work=NBA.com|date=November 30, 2020}} but was waived on December 19.{{cite web|first=Luke|last=Adams|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2020/12/suns-release-johnathan-motley.html|title=Suns Release Johnathan Motley|work=HoopsRumors.com|date=December 19, 2020}}

=Incheon ET Land Elephants (2021)=

On February 10, 2021, Motley signed with the Incheon ET Land Elephants of the Korean Basketball League (KBL),{{cite web |title=프로농구 전자랜드, 외국인 2명 모두 교체…스캇·모틀리 영입 |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20210210176200007 |website=연합뉴스 |access-date=December 4, 2024 |date=February 10, 2021}}{{cite news|first=Dario|last=Skerletic|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/johnathan-motley-joins-incheon-land-elephants/|title=Johnathan Motley joins Incheon Land Elephants|work=Sportando.basketball|date=February 28, 2021|access-date=February 28, 2021}} where he averaged 20.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks.{{cite news|first=Emiliano|last=Carchia|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/lokomotiv-kuban-krasnodar-lands-johnathan-motley/|title=Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar lands Johnathan Motley|work=Sportando.basketball|date=August 3, 2021|access-date=August 3, 2021}}

=Lokomotiv Kuban (2021–2022)=

On August 3, 2021, Motley signed with Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League and the 7DAYS EuroCup. He left the team after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=https://basketnews.com/news-167600-leave-or-stay-american-players-in-russia.html|title=Leave or stay: American players in Russia|website=basketnews.com}}

=Fenerbahçe Beko (2022–2024)=

On June 20, 2022, Motley signed with Fenerbahçe Beko of the Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL), his first EuroLeague club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fenerbahce.org/haberler/basketbol-erkek/2022/6/johnathan-motley-fenerbahce-beko-da|title=Johnathan Motley Fenerbahçe Beko'da|last=|first=|date=June 20, 2022|website=|publisher=Fenerbahçe|language=tr|access-date=June 20, 2022}} He awarded EuroLeague MVP of the Round 19 with 22 points and 17 rebounds of 38 PIR.{{Cite web|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/round-19-mvp-johnathan-motley-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/|title=Round 19 MVP: Johnathan Motley, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul|last=|first=|date=January 14, 2023|website=|publisher=EuroLeague|language=tr|access-date=January 14, 2023}}

=Hapoel Tel Aviv (2024–present)=

On June 25, 2024, he signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.{{Cite web|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/hapoel-tel-aviv-officially-signs-johnathan-motley/|title=Hapoel Tel Aviv officially signs Johnathan Motley|last=|first=|date=June 25, 2024|website=|publisher=Sportando|language=En|access-date=June 25, 2024}}

In October 2024, Motley was named MVP of Round 3 of the 2024 BKT EuroCup. He scored 24 points, 6 rebounds and had 4 assists.{{cite web |title=Johnathan Motley named MVP of the BKT EuroCup Round 3 |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1725856/johnathan-motley-besiktas-hapoel-tel-aviv-bkt-eurocup-mvp-round-3/ |website=Eurohoops |access-date=11 October 2024 |language=en |date=10 October 2024}}

Career statistics

=NBA=

==Regular season==

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2017}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas

| 11 || 4 || 16.0 || .533 || .167 || .536 || 4.5 || .6 || .3 || .2 || 8.7

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2018}}

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers

| 22 || 0 || 7.1 || .534 || .000 || .600 || 2.3 || .5 || .2 || .1 || 4.6

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2019}}

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers

| 13 || 0 || 3.2 || .733 || 1.000 || .714 || .8 || .6 || .2 || .0 || 2.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 46 || 4 || 8.1 || .552 || .200 || .587 || 2.4 || .6 || .2 || .1 || 4.9

=EuroLeague=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Fenerbahçe

| 36 || 25 || 23.3 || .609 || .231 || .684 || 5.4 || 1.6 || .6 || .4 || 14.5 || 16.0

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| 36 || 19 || 18.7 || .648 || .250 || .709 || 4.2 || 1.1 || .2 || .2 || 11.2 || 12.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 72 || 44 || 21.0 || .625 || .235 || .696 || 4.8 || 1.3 || .4 || .3 || 12.8 || 14.1

=EuroCup=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22

| style="text-align:left;"| Lokomotiv Kuban

| 9 || 9 || 26.8 || .628 || .333 || .734 || 7.0 || 1.3 || .9 || 1.1 || 21.2 || 23.9

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 9 || 9 || 26.8 || .628 || .333 || .734 || 7.0 || 1.3 || .9 || 1.1 || 21.2 || 23.9

=Domestic leagues=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"

! Year

! Team

! League

! {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}

! {{Tooltip|MPG|Minutes per game}}

! {{Tooltip|FG%|Field goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|3P%|3-point field-goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|FT%|Free-throw percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|RPG|Rebounds per game}}

! {{Tooltip|APG|Assists per game}}

! {{Tooltip|SPG|Steals per game}}

! {{Tooltip|BPG|Blocks per game}}

! {{Tooltip|PPG|Points per game}}

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA|size=20px}} Texas Legends || style="text-align:center;"|G League || 34 || 32.5 || .565 || .280 || .698 || 9.8 || 2.0 || .9 || 1.1 || 22.2

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA|size=20px}} A. C. Clippers || style="text-align:center;"|G League || 27 || 34.2 || .553 || .296 || .701 || 10.0 || 3.2 || .6 || .9 || 24.5

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA|size=20px}} A. C. Clippers || style="text-align:center;"|G League || 26 || 33.0 || .518 || .356 || .753 || 7.9 || 2.8 || .7 || 1.0 || 24.0

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|South Korea|size=20px}} Incheon Elephants || style="text-align:center;"|KBL || 24 || 25.6 || .534 || .347 || .722 || 8.9 || 3.2 || .7 || 1.4 || 20.7

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Russia|size=20px}} Lokomotiv Kuban || style="text-align:center;"|VTBUL || 14 || 30.2 || .589 || .333 || .798 || 7.6 || 2.4 || 1.3 || 1.1 || 19.4

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Fenerbahçe || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 33 || 23.4 || .621 || .200 || .703 || 5.8 || 1.6 || .4 || .6 || 15.4

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Fenerbahçe || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 19 || 20.1 || .638 || .250 || .727 || 4.9 || 1.7 || .4 || .6 || 14.5