Jonathan Motley was not rolling after the pick. He was popping instead, catching passes first around the mid-range area and then from behind the three-point line.
“Maybe you should move a little closer,” one of the reporters joked with a smile during Crvena Zvezda’s practice ahead of their EuroLeague Round 2 game against Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Everyone knew what the joke was about.
Motley was coming off a historically bad performance in Zvezda’s loss to Žalgiris, finishing with a PIR of -13 – tied for the second-worst mark in EuroLeague history.
Fan reactions over the following days ranged from “disaster” to “it happens to everyone.” But the joke also illustrated the kind of pressure that comes with playing in Belgrade – and how quickly one bad night can become a talking point.
Jordan Nwora, however, sees no reason for concern.
“It’s super important,” Nwora said when asked about the support Motley has received from his teammates. “One thing I’ll say – it’s just one game. It’s going to happen to every player on this team throughout the season. It’s just something that happens. We talked to him, but I don’t think there is room for panic.”
Nwora paused for a moment, as if deciding whether to add something else.
He did.
“A lot of offensive fouls were called on him. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen that. I don’t know if I agree with that… He’s going to move on and be better for the next game.”
Motley is an experienced EuroLeague player who has already been through plenty of ups and downs in his career. He is not easy to shake.
He was among the last players still in the arena the day before the Hapoel game, putting in extra work after practice.
“He Slept the Worst in the Entire City”
And this time, there is some extra motivation.
After an excellent first season with Hapoel, Motley found himself pushed into a smaller role under Dimitris Itoudis during the second half of last season.
“Maybe he was the guy who slept the worst in the city that night,” head coach Ibon Navarro said with the hint of a smile.
“The next day, he was crushed, but it’s not about how many times you fall. It’s about how many times you show character and get back up. He practiced very well – just as he did before, there was no difference there. He showed the right energy, wanting to improve and give something back to the team for all the support he received.”
Chris Jones and Motley both played for Itoudis at Hapoel last season, so they should also have some useful insight to offer Zvezda’s coaching staff in preparing for the game.
For Motley, though, the most important thing is much simpler: forget what happened against Žalgiris and get back to being himself. For all the depth on Zvezda’s roster, center is the one position where the options are thinner. They need the real Jonathan Motley back – and they need him soon.
And fan jokes can work the other way, too.
Very much so.