Aussie basketballer Brock Motum might have missed out on an NBA team this offseason, but he’s making the most of his time playing in the Euroleague and has an eye on returning to America as soon as he’s ready.
Graduating from Washington State, Motum was always considered a longshot to be drafted into the pros.
Like his fellow Aussie Matthew Dellavedova he went undrafted, but while his fellow Aussie went on to secure a place with the Cleveland Cavaliers after the Summer League, Motum failed to secure a long-term contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Instead of returning to Australia, Motum was picked up by the Italian pro basketball team Granarolo Bologna in July. Since then, the young Aussie has been turning heads with his offensive output.
In the first seven games, the 6’10” power forward has managed a 53.8 field goal percentage on top of a 31.8 three point shooting percentage.
That’s while averaging 23 minutes of court time per game.
His best game undoubtedly came in early November against Sutor MRG, where he shot 4-of-5 field goals and 2-of-4 three pointers for 16 total points.
Motum’s offensive performance shouldn’t surprise anybody. He was the Pac-10’s leading scorer two years in a row and shot field goals at 51 percent for his entire college career.
When ready and able, he plans to return to the States and push for an NBA career.
His two-year contract with Granarolo has an ‘NBA out’ clause that allows him to leave in the Euroleague offseason.
As it turns out, his path to the NBA is not unique. Fellow Aussie and San Antonio Spur Aron Baynes honed his skills in Europe before making it to the States.
Baynes — who is also a graduate of Washington State — played for multiple European teams between 2009 and 2013 before getting his shot with the Spurs.
His persistence eventually paid off.
After limited minutes during the Spurs playoff push last season, Baynes has now set himself up for more court time in 2013-14, currently averaging 8.3 minutes per game.
While Motum is well aware of Baynes’ journey to the NBA, he hopes to follow his own path.
“It’s great that Baynes’ perseverance got him into the NBA,” he told The Roar.
“But I am not on a four-year timeline or anything, as long as I continue to improve and get better each day I hope to end up in the NBA as that has always been my ultimate dream.”
Obviously they’re not identical. Baynes has a huge frame, ideal for defending the NBA’s big men.
Motum is not that big (they are the same height, but Motum is almost 20 pounds lighter), but has his own unique skills. Most obviously, as mentioned above, his offensive chops.
He doesn’t hold any illusions as to what’s ahead of him, and recognises that it’s going to take a lot of work to make it to the NBA.
“Improving and working hard to get there is where I’m at right now, and that’s all I can control,” he said.
Whether it takes him one year or four, it’s clear Motum has the Association firmly in his sights.
While all eyes will be on fellow Aussie Dante Exum next year and how he enters the NBA — most likely as a top-five draft pick — keep an eye and an ear out for Motum as he works to improve his game in Italy.
The Brisbane native will surely get another shot at the big time, sooner rather than later.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Nikola Jokic has scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead defending NBA champions Denver past LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers…
There will undoubtedly be upset results here and there in the NBA playoffs but there’s an overwhelming sense of fait accompli that Boston will…
LeBron James is going back to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. Steph Curry is headed to the games for the…
The only realistic threat to Boston’s chances of strolling through the Eastern Conference is a team that could still end up in the play-in…
Australian guards Dante Exum and Josh Giddey have both come up big for their NBA clubs in crucial wins in the lead-in to the…
Minnesota Timberwolves fans have endured plenty of pain in their 35 years of being a laughing stock in the NBA. In all that time,…
