Ex-Hapoel Tel Aviv Player Jonathan Motley Criticized Harshly in Serbia

Jonathan Motley, a former player for Hapoel Tel Aviv, is facing severe criticism in Serbia following a dismal EuroLeague debut for his new team, Crvena Zvezda Belgrade. The team lost its opening game of the 2026-27 EuroLeague season at home to Zalgiris Kaunas, 83-77.

Motley's performance was particularly poor, with the American center finishing the game with just 2 points, 6 turnovers, and 5 fouls. His efficiency rating was a dismal -13, reportedly the second-worst in EuroLeague history. Serbian media outlets did not hold back in their assessments.

The publication Telegraf described Motley's game as one he would want to forget, highlighting his struggles against Zalgiris's center, Laurynas Birutis, and noting that Motley failed to provide the solutions his team needed. Sportal echoed these sentiments, calling it a debut to be forgotten and suggesting his statistics would take time to forgive his display.

Further criticism came from Kurir, which labeled Motley's performance "shocking" and "terrible," with his numbers backing up the assessment. Mondo questioned his mental readiness for the EuroLeague level, suggesting that while he has talent, his mental game is regressing and that Crvena Zvezda cannot rely on him, potentially needing to sign another center.

These harsh reviews suggest Motley has a significant challenge ahead to win over Serbian fans and prove his worth in the EuroLeague.