"I hold no grudges against anyone!" Motiejunas opens up to Sportal about his time at Crvena Zvezda: I make every decision rationally

"I'm doing well, I'm doing well. The situation is... well, similar to last year when I didn't start the season with the team. At Monaco, I at least had the chance to practice with the squad and play five-on-five for maybe the last two or three weeks before the season began, prior to joining Zvezda. Back then, I had to do individual workouts at times, so getting into the rhythm and everything was a bit challenging when I arrived. It's a similar story here—I'm joining a month into the season. Naturally, I kept working out on my own, taking care of my nutrition and everything else. Once I joined the team, I spoke with coach Trinchieri, and he was very smart about how he wants to integrate me into the squad. So far, I've had two training sessions with the team. He told me: 'I want you to get into game shape, find your rhythm, and only then will I put you on the court. I don't want to force anything or risk an injury,' which is great for me and very wise on his part. That's the path we're taking. The team travelled to Bosnia today. I trained with them today, tomorrow I'll do individual work, and once they're back, I'll rejoin team practice. We'll see—when he feels I'm ready for the game speed and everything else, he'll bring me into the rotation." - Donatas Motiejunas

"Naturally, I heard a lot of positive things about the project over the summer. The thought crossed my mind during the off-season that it could be a great opportunity for me, but it was just in the back of my head. I'm an ambitious person, and I love competing and fighting in situations where a team is striving for something and building a project. It was a similar situation with Monaco. When I arrived there, there were maybe eight of us players in the first week. It was a building process, but we managed to create something special. I had several options and spoke to a few EuroLeague teams. Again, I make decisions by taking emotions out of the equation as much as possible and consulting people in basketball. A few people asked me: 'Are you going to join EuroLeague teams that aren't fighting for anything, don't care, and know they won't make the playoffs? Or will you choose a team with huge ambitions, hungry to win, compete, and chase big goals?' Because of all those different perspectives, choosing PAOK was a fairly easy call. Plus, I had an incredible conversation with coach Trinchieri, which really pushed me toward joining PAOK." - Donatas Motiejunas

"Nick is an amazing player and an even more incredible human being. Everyone in the locker room loves him. He's phenomenal on the court too. He's the guy who creates team basketball. I like playing the same way—involving others and making sacrifices, just like Popovich used to say when I was with him in San Antonio. He'd always say: 'Sacrifice a good shot for a great shot.' That's my approach, that's how I was raised, and that's how I understand basketball. It's fun playing with him; he knows the game inside out and makes life so much easier for big men. I feel he's at a stage in his career where he knows how to lead a team, help the younger guys, and elevate the whole squad, so having a player like that is invaluable." - Donatas Motiejunas

"I mean, just looking at the clubs with new owners coming in, they understand that entering the EuroLeague and securing a franchise opens many doors, especially when a franchise system is implemented. With the right structure, owners will enable teams to become self-sustaining rather than having to fund them out of their own pockets, so everyone views it as an investment. I think that's great. It's sad for me and painful to see what happened with Monaco, but many teams are growing and moving forward, and all of that will help European basketball grow as well." - Donatas Motiejunas

"I won't lie to you, deciding to join Zvezda wasn't easy—it was tough. I knew I wouldn't be the most popular person back home because of that choice, but ultimately, it was my only opportunity to play in the EuroLeague rather than just sitting around waiting. At the same time, I saw how they were playing, what they were doing, and the talent they possessed. I knew they were a much better team than their results showed. In one of our first team meetings, I told them: 'Listen guys, I grew up in a basketball culture, and I know this is a crazy basketball culture too. I came up through the Žalgiris system, but there are plenty of guys here who grew up in Zvezda's system.' I told them: 'Every time I play against Zvezda or Partizan, to me it feels like a playoff game. I know the players fight like crazy and it's going to be tough as hell.' And I added: 'It feels like you've lost your identity.' I like leading by example, and I believe that's the right way. Whenever I stepped onto the court, I gave 100% in training, dove for every ball, and tried to do everything right. I came with respect and love, because without those two things, you can't build anything. The guys naturally followed. When you arrive with positivity, love, and good intentions... and don't get me wrong, we live in a world where people are smart and can sense when something is fake. I came with an open heart and respect for every player, and through practice, we forged a bond. For me, the most beautiful thing was having the chance to share the floor with guys who showed their true character and big hearts." - Donatas Motiejunas

"Naturally, the way it all ended wasn't easy for me, but that was the coach's decision, and I respected it. That's professional basketball. There are always things you can control and things you can't. What I could control was staying professional, showing up to practice every single day, putting in the work, helping the team, and being ready whenever called upon. I didn't miss a single EuroLeague game due to health issues, I was available for practice and games, and I always gave 100 percent. That's how I've approached my entire career. I hold no grudges against anyone. Over the years, I've learned not to make emotional decisions. When I have an important call to make, I consult basketball people whose judgment I trust, listen to various opinions, and then decide for myself. Now I'm at PAOK, I'm happy with my choice, and my full focus is on helping this team." - Donatas Motiejunas

"I have nothing against Saša; he's a fantastic coach. From my end, I wish him all the best." - Donatas Motiejunas

"I don't know if we can say everything is fine. They've appointed a new head coach and will elect a new federation president, so clearly things didn't pan out the way people in Lithuania expected. There were a lot of emotions surrounding Lithuanian basketball during that period, which is understandable given how much basketball means to our country. Changes are happening now, and I hope they bring something positive. Every team and organization experiences ups and downs. I believe that in difficult moments, the point isn't to look for someone to blame, but to understand what went wrong, learn from it, and find solutions. That's the only way forward." - Donatas Motiejunas

"Definitely. I'm going to try to finish my coaching diploma this year. Maybe in the future. At the end of the day, I love basketball; I started playing at age seven, and it holds a massive place in my heart. I understand how vital emotional and psychological intelligence is in sports. We'll see where life takes me, but for now, it's step by step. Even during tough times when everything seems to be falling apart, I always look within and try to take away a lesson. If you don't learn the lesson in front of you, life will keep sending it back to you again and again. A person asks God for strength, and God gives them challenges to build that strength, and then they complain about having such a hard life. I don't believe in luck; I believe luck is earned every single day. That's my philosophy. I've learned a lot through hard lessons, and I respect life. From every situation, good or bad—and we usually learn far more from bad experiences—I try to let emotions settle and find the lesson life is trying to teach me." - Donatas Motiejunas

"Perhaps the only thing I'd like to add is that upon arriving at Zvezda, I said in an interview that I would give 100% and leave it to the fans to judge whether they liked it or not. Throughout last year and into this season, I received an overwhelming amount of messages and support. That speaks louder about my work and what I brought to the table than any stat line or result. I want to thank the fans for their support. I know I couldn't reply to everyone—it's simply impossible—but I saw everything and want to say thank you." - Donatas Motiejunas