Monaco extend Motiejunas: 'We have weapons to reach Final Four' / News - Basketnews.com

AS Monaco officially announced the extension with Donatas Motiejunas, who signed a new 1-year deal with the Monegasque team.

Credit: AS Monaco/Direction de la Communication Credit AS Monaco/Direction de la Communication

AS Monaco officially announced the extension of the Lithuanian forward Donatas Motiejunas.

Donatas Motiejūnas

Position:CAge:31Height:213 cmWeight:120 kgBirth place:Kaunas, LithuaniaProfileNewsStatistics

According to the club's announcement, the 31-year-old signed a 1-year extension. BasketNews reported about the agreement on July 9.

Last EuroLeague season, Motiejunas averaged9.7 points (2FG: 63.5%; 3FG: 32.7%), 4.6 rebounds, and 10.8 in PIR.

He played his best game of the season against Monaco's French rivals ASVEL Villeurbanne, posting 27 points on 10 of 12 shooting and 27 in PIR.

"The first season in a club is always delicate," Motiejunas said in the official statement. "We didn't know what to expect, how the team would play, what the objectives would be. When I arrived, it was to support the team in its first season in the Euroleague, and playing this competition was a goal in itself."

"And then we got caught up in the game, and the goal turned into almost reaching the Final Four. The squad was good, but this year, the team can only be better when you look at the many quality reinforcements with long-term contracts to show the desire to truly build a performing group over the long term in the EuroLeague and the French league.

As for the objectives, the ideal would be a Final Four and a championship in the league. We have the weaI'ms to do it, and I'm very excited to start this season with a gro"p of this quality," the Lithuanian forward added.

Motiejunas also said he's happy to be back with the Roja team, adding that he's delighted with the ambition the club is showing.

"I am delighted and honored to be part of this team for another year. As I said, the management of the club showed its ambitions by signing key players and strengthening the team.

This will give us the possibility of having different options and preparing for all possible scenarios. So we will be even more effective in this area than last season. It seems that the recruits are of great quality, so I'm really excited to be part of this adventure," Motiejunas concluded.

The 2.13 m. big man significantly improved his game after a coaching change in Monaco.

When Sasa Obradovic took over the team,Motiejunas' numbers increased to 12.5 points on 67% 2-point shooting and 5.9 rebounds in 21 minutes.

Motiejunas stayed consistent in French League as well. In the domestic competition, he averaged 12.4 points (2FG: 66.7%), 4.9 rebounds, and 13.6 EFF.

Credit BasketNews.com

AS Monaco

Position Player Status PG Matthew Strazel (story) Signed until 2025 PG Mike James (story) Signed until 2024 PG Elie Okobo (story) Signed until 2024 SG Jordan Loyd (story) Signed until 2024 SG Yakuba Ouattara(story) Signed until 2023 SF Jaron Blossomgame (story) Signed until 2023 +1 SF Armel Traore Long-term contract SF Alpha Diallo (story) Signed until 2025 PF Adrien Moerman (story) Signed until 2023 +1 PF/C Yoan Makoundou (story) Signed until 2026 PF/C John Brown III (story) Signed until 2024 C Donatas Motiejunas (story) Signed until 2023 C Donta Hall (story) Signed until 2025 Coach Sasa Obradovic (story) Expired contract Leo Westermann (will not return), Paris Lee (will not return), Dwayne Bacon, Danilo Andjusic (will not return), Jerry Boutsiele (will not return), Will Thomas (will not return), Brock Motum (will not return), Ibrahima Fall-Faye, Rudy Demahis, Rob Gray (will not return) Rumored to leave Interested Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.