Hapoel Tel Aviv BC star Johnathan Motley spoke with Euroleague.net's Geoff Gillingham ahead of the team's BKT EuroCup Finals series against CB Gran Canaria.

Johnathan Motley: From a near-death experience to dreaming of EuroCup glory with Hapoel Tel Aviv

It all could have been so different for [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/).

Back in high school, basketball was the last thing on the mind of the [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) center and [2024-25 All-EuroCup First Team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bkt-all-eurocup-2024-25-first-team/) selection. For a while, at least.

Prior to his junior year at high school, Motley’s appendix burst and he had to spend 18 days at the Texas Children's Hospital. For any aspiring athlete, a setback like that could be incredibly damaging.

“That was one of the weirdest moments in my life,” Motley tells [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net)’s Geoff Gillingham. “It was a really crazy situation and I could have almost died.

“I had bacteria spreading through my body, that's why I stayed in the hospital so long. They had to connect a PICC line into arm so that the medicine can go straight to my heart. I was on medicine for like couple months or two – it was crazy. I just had to pump constant antibiotics just to kill all the germs because it had actually ruptured, so that was crazy. I wasn’t even worrying about pro at that moment, I was just worried about getting better.”

Naturally, Motley lost a lot of weight during that time. Suddenly, he was having to play catchup.  

“I think I lost like 30 pounds, something crazy,” Motley says. “It was bad. I couldn’t eat for a while because you pump all that medicine into you; the medicine’s got side effects so I wasn’t eating.

“I couldn’t really move that much for a couple of weeks after I got out the hospital. And I had to take a medicine bag home so that the PICC line stayed in my body, so I had to keep it at home and I had to go to school like this and connect bags of antibiotics to me. It was wild.”

Knowing that he needed to put that weight back on once he was given the all-clear, Motley was on a mission. And he had the right people helping him along the way, starting with his mom, Willie.

“She’s always there, man, doing whatever, whatever she can to support me,” he says. “I always give a lot of credit to her. No matter what, she’s always there supporting. She’s actually coming here \[to Bulgaria for Game 1\] so she’s a rider for real, she’s a ride or die. She’s always doing whatever she can to help."

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Different coaches and trainers have played an important role, too.

“I was always in the gym working out and I had a lot of different trainers," he continues. "Coach Byron Smith was one of my main ones at school, Chris Gaston was really big in my development growing up, too. There’s a lot of guys. Sheldon McClellan, he helped me a lot.

“Man, I had a lot of guys help me become the player I am today. I just had to put in the effort, but there were guys willing to get in the gym with me, for sure.”

Another setback came a few years later when the coaches at Baylor University said that they wanted Motley to redshirt for a year. But it was a decision that he understood, and it’s one that has helped his understanding at the professional level.

“For me it was just a weight thing, like I was really skinny,” he admits. “I was always a pretty good basketball player but what separates you from being really good or going up a level is size. I think that’s just the difference between all the levels of basketball.

“The higher the level you go, the more athletic the bigger guys are. Pretty much the skill and the talent are kind of the same. But instead of a 6-foot-1 guard in the EuroLeague that you’re playing against, or in the EuroCup, in the NBA this guy is doing the same thing but he’s 6-foot-6. Or the big man you’re playing against in the EuroCup is 6-foot-7 but in the NBA he’s 7-foot-2 and can run and can move. That, I think, is the difference.

“So I had to get in the weight room, gained like 30 pounds and then after that the game became easier for me. Shout out to coach Charlie Melton at Baylor, he put me through all the work I needed to do to get to where I am today. He helped me gain this weight, we were in the weight room grinding, so shout out coach Charlie Melton, that’s my guy.”

That year watching on from the sidelines paid dividends for Motley, too, as he dominated thereafter, being named an All-American in the 2016-17 season, winning the 2016-17 Karl Malone Trophy, given to the best power forward in the country, and leading Baylor to first place in the national rankings for the first time in January 2017.

“You definitely learn about the game \[during a redshirt year\], you definitely get an advantage because you’re watching,” he says. “You’re not just sitting out, you’re practicing every day, you’re doing all these things. I’m playing against pros every day, so I had no choice but to get better or I was going to get buried.”

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On that successful Baylor team and a teammate of Motley’s for four years was Ish Wainright, his current teammate at Hapoel. When the opportunity came for Motley to reunite with his friend, he didn’t think twice about getting involved in the negotiations.

“That’s my guy. It was fire when he came in the summer,” he says. “I kind of helped because I was one of the first to sign for Hapoel. Then Coach Stef \[Dedas\] was like, ‘I also saw Ish.’ And I was like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s like my brother. I’ve known him since I was 17 years old.’ So it’s crazy that someone I knew for 10 years can also help me win a EuroCup championship, a European championship, make history with Hapoel. That’s so fire.

“I get to do it with somebody I’ve known for a long time, who I was rooting for. He had a crazy journey to get to where he is. It’s just awesome to be a part of it, and to say that we’re still playing and then able to play together and able to win a championship is even crazier. That’s really fire.”

Johnathan Motley (center) and Ish Wainright (right) during their days at Baylor University.

Motley, now 29, is now in his fourth season in Europe, but his rookie campaign on the old continent with Lokomotiv Kuban in 2021-22 was key in getting him acclimatized.

“When I went to Loko, I started dominating right away, just doing what I do,” he says. “I had great vets, also European vets, like Errick McCollum, Darius Thompson, Stanton Kidd, Greg Whittington, Alan Williams. I had great vets.

“To walk into my first season in Europe with guys like this, it was amazing. Errick really helped me through the ups and downs of the European game and making sure I knew what it took and I knew what I was going to get into. Even when I was going to Fener, he told me, ‘The EuroLeague is a little bit different, you’ve got to be able to play in a role, be able to dominate in a specific setting.’ So I had a lot of knowledge about what I was walking in to.”

The past two years, Motley has been in the EuroLeague with Fenerbahce, which was key in preparing him for this current season at Hapoel as one of the favorites to lift the EuroCup trophy.

“The EuroLeague is a different monster,” he says. “Playing for a team like Fener, you always know you’re going to get everyone’s best shot, so we were used to having a target on our back. I think that also prepared me for being on a team like Hapoel.

“When \[the Hapoel front office\] put all these guys together, now you have a target on your back. Now everyone’s circling you from the beginning of the season, like, ‘Oh, we need to play good this game.’ I’m used to that, I know what it takes. I know what’s going to come and I know how to handle it, so I can also give guys knowledge who maybe haven’t been at that level before and help them prepare for being the team that everyone wants to be, because that’s a whole different monster.

“Then you start seeing guys playing way more aggressive, way harder, making way more shots against you, and you’ve got to be able to respond to that and be able to still win because they brought you here to win, so you’ve got to be able to respond. Everything at Fener helped me become the player that I am: Coach \[Dimitris\] Itoudis, Coach Saras. Coach Saras is a great coach, he also helped me become a better player. We won the Turkish Cup, the Turkish championship, got to the \[EuroLeague\] Final Four, so I had a lot of big-time experience and big-time games.”

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Following a mid-season coaching change, Motley was reunited with Coach Itoudis at Hapoel and the Greek tactician’s impact has been telling. Hapoel went 6-5 through the first 11 games of the season, the last two of which saw the team go 1-1 with Itoudis at the helm, but the Israeli side is 9-2 since. For Motley, Hapoel is hitting top gear at the perfect time of the campaign.

“We had a lot of moving pieces in the beginning, so it’s kind of hard to get a rhythm,” he says. “Once you just settle down into it, get some chemistry going, you start learning what your teammates like, what they don’t like, how they react to different things on the court, mentally and physically, you just become closer and you’re also willing to play harder for each other. I think it just took a while for us to gain some clarity and some continuity.

“We have a lot of talent put together; sometimes it works right away, sometimes it doesn’t. Panathinaikos, for example, in the beginning they were not that good \[last season\] but then they won the \[EuroLeague\] championship. It takes time, it always does.

“Luckily we’ve turned it on at the right time. You don’t want to win all season and then have a slump at the end. I think this is the best way; we went through our bumps early and we were still good, and now we’re peaking. It’s all supposed to happen like this, I think this is the best way for it to happen for a team to be successful.”

Even though Hapoel is preparing for its 23rd EuroCup road game this season, given it plays its home games far away from Tel Aviv in Samokov, Bulgaria, the club boasts one of the most passionate fan groups on the old continent. That, as Motley attests, is a real motivating factor for the team.

“Our fans are amazing fans, they’re crazy,” he says. “They support us through everything – the losses, the wins.

“The celebrations after Game 2 of the semifinals were really for the fans. They gave us so much energy in Samokov, they came with so much energy and life that I think poured into us and allowed us to play a certain way. It also gave us the confidence to finish in Game 3.

“I just want to give credit to the Hapoel fans – I know they’re going to show out. They’re going to be loud and rowdy on Tuesday. Even in our games in Tel Aviv, home or away, they’re loud, they’re rowdy, they’re ready, and they always give us energy to play hard. If you can get any energy from any outside thing, you always appreciate it as a basketball player.”

Hapoel and Gran Canaria have already met twice this season, with the Israeli side winning both games in the regular season, yet the Spanish club has recent memories of lifting the 2023 EuroCup title. Still, Motley has respect for Gran Canaria but is confident in Hapoel’s chances.

“We have some guys with some experience, too,” he responds. “I’ve been to the Final Four, I’ve won the Turkish Cup, I’ve won the Turkish championship.

“I’ve been with Coach Saras who has been a high-level player himself, I took some gems from him. Coach Itoudis has won championships.

“I think it’s two great teams going head to head. You don’t make the Finals unless you’re a great team. I can’t wait to play them and see who wins.

“We’re just going to try to forget about what happened in the regular season and remember that this is a new series, so we’re going in with it 0-0. The team is on board with that and locked in with that. We’re going to see who is the best after the jump ball.”

Game News

The All-EuroCup First Team center is aiming to lift the first continental trophy of his career

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-04-08T17:00:00.000Z)

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-04-11T19:00:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket has confirmed that Pedro Martinez, the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup Coach of the Year, has renewed his contract until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Pedro Martinez renews at Valencia until 2027

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) has confirmed that Pedro Martinez, the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup Coach of the Year, has renewed his contract until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Coach Martinez, in his first year back at Valencia, helped the team reach the EuroCup Semifinals this season before falling 2-1 in its best-of-three series with Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🇵 🇪 🇩 🇷 🇴 <br>2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣7️⃣🧡<br><br>Cas 👉 Pedro Martínez prolonga su vinculación con Valencia Basket hasta 2027<a href="https://t.co/66Glb0pO7g">https://t.co/66Glb0pO7g</a><br><br>Val 👉 Pedro Martínez prolonga la seua vinculació amb Valencia Basket fins a 2027<a href="https://t.co/18MfDXGUIw">https://t.co/18MfDXGUIw</a><br><br>Eng 👉 Pedro Martínez extends his contract… <a href="https://t.co/YjaFTb4iVf">pic.twitter.com/YjaFTb4iVf</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1909577015293862272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Under his leadership, Valencia posted a EuroCup-best 16-2 record in the regular season to top Group B, then downed U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the quarterfinals. 

The 63-year-old has a 96-37 record in the EuroCup across four clubs: Dreamland Gran Canaria (2003-05; 2009-12), Estudiantes (2005-06), Girona (2007-08) and Valencia (2015-17; 2024-present).

More Valencia News

The Spanish coach guided the team to the EuroCup Semifinals this season

CB Gran Canaria forward Miquel Salvo spoke with Euroleague.net's Javier Gancedo ahead of the team's EuroCup Finals series with Hapoel Tel Aviv BC.

Miquel Salvo: 'We are ready for this challenge'

[Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/) has reached the BKT EuroCup Finals for the third time and has a chance to win its second title, after going all the way in 2023. Do-it-all power forward [Miquel Salvo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/miquel-salvo/005005/) is one of five players that remains on Gran Canaria's roster from that championship-winning team.

Salvo has a reputation for doing a little bit of everything on the court and has the numbers to prove it, averaging 5.2 points on 85.0% free throws, 2.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and a PIR of 7.4. He ranks third all-time in two-point shooting. Salvo has hit 137 of 207 shots inside the arc (66.2% 2FG), only trailing 2009-10 EuroCup MVP Marko Banic (68.0% 2FG) and Ivan Zoroski (66.5%). 

Ahead of Game 1 of the 2025 EuroCup Finals, Salvo spoke with [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net)'s Javier Gancedo about the season so far and what lies ahead against Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv.

Miquel Salvo is looking for his second BKT EuroCup title.

2024-25 EuroCup highlights: Miquel Salvo, Gran Canaria

**Hello, Miquel. First of all, congratulations on reaching another EuroCup Finals. Let's talk about Game 3 of the semifinals against Bahcesehir. You were very solid and didn't lose control when you were trailing. Was that consistency the biggest key to this game?**

"Thanks a lot. Yes, we were expecting a game like this. We were aware that it would be a long game, a game where we couldn't make many mistakes. I think that we already approached Game 2 really well. We prepared against their switching defense really well and how to attack it. I think that in Game 3, we played close to perfection for 40 minutes."

**In Game 2, Caleb Homesley literally kept Gran Canaria in the competition with a game-winning three-point play. What do you remember about it?**

"Well, I had no doubt about the and-one free throw. I trust Caleb a lot. As for the play, it is one that we have done many times since Jaka arrived, in practice and some games. When I saw he was drawing the play I thought, 'Look, here comes this play again!'. After the game, I had former teammates texting me, AJ Slaughter and some others, saying, 'Wow, he tried that play!'. In the end, when you repeat it so many times in recent years, it sticks in our minds, and it worked in the best moment, in the best scenario. It is a very good play, you make the opponent focus on something else and what happens is completely opposite."

Caleb Homesley kept Dreamland Gran Canaria in the EuroCup with his backdoor play. Check it out!

Lakovic's backdoor play

**You are one of five Gran Canaria players who won the EuroCup title in 2023, plus Coach Lakovic. How that experience a factor, even when the format is a bit different?**

"Exactly. As you say, the format is different. It has changed. It looks like a new competition. It has nothing to do with the single-game quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. The experience that we have reaching this far in the competition should be useful for us. It can give us a plus of tranquility, not just to us but also to the rest of the teammates who have not been in a similar situation."

**You lost twice against Hapoel this season. Is that a factor? Can you get something positive out of it in this situation?**

"It can go both ways. I hope they are a little bit overconfident after beating us twice and can do it again easily. That way, we would have a bigger chance. On the other hand, we can watch the games that we lost against them and try to improve. We know what to expect from them, they are a team that plays a little different from the rest, with a lot of physicality. It's important to have the right focus, like we did against Bahcesehir, to play two good games, three if needed."

**You have won a lot of close games both in the EuroCup and the Spanish League. In the EuroCup, you won the last six games decided by five points ot less. What makes you so solid in the last minutes?**

"You have to believe until the end. There have been games that have been difficult for us, in which the other team took a three- or four-point lead in the final minutes. Another team would give up but we didn't. I would say that's it, we have not stopped believing at any time. That's what we did in the quarterfinals and semifinals, playing on the road. We have been able to turn it around and won in very difficult fields. Like you said, we also won close games in the ACB. We know how to fight until the end and had some incredible game finishes, with winning shots in the last second. I think we got to the finals in the best moment of the season, both physically and mentally, and we are ready for this challenge."

**Credit to Coach Lakovic, then. How is Jaka as a coach?**

"He is very demanding. He doesn't let us relax at any time. He is demanding until the end. He talked to us after Game 3 against Bahcesehir or after our last home win against Unicaja \[in the Spanish League\] and said he is so demanding because he believes so much in us, and that he lives for these moments. The way he is, how he talks about it and all the basketball that he has inside made all these years with him so good. If you look at his time here as a whole, it has been great."

**The core of the teams has been together for many years: you, Nico Brussino, John Shurna and Andrew Albicy. You have been to a thousand battles, winning some and losing some. How important is it and how much of an advantage it is in a situation like this?**

"It is very important to have a core of players, like we do. We have seen a lot of teams that have been successful keeping the same core of players for many years. It is not only important for us, because we understand each other by just looking at each other, but for those players who arrive to the team. We have share this club's values, how we work and how we are, how things are done in Gran Canaria. They cannot just come here and do whatever they want: we are here guide them a little bit and have that responsibility to help new players adjust as soon as possible."

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**Mike Tobey also won the EuroCup with Valencia and Mehdy Ngouama lifted the trophy with Paris. That's seven players that know what it feels like to be a EuroCup champion. It has to be a huge motivation to win it again, right?**

"Obviously. Whether it is the EuroCup or any competition, when you lift a trophy and the emotions you feel, it is like a recognition to all the work behind, to the effort you made all season, all the work that the staff did, even our families. We are very far from everywhere and spend many days away from our families. They are here alone for a long time, so it is a reward to all the work we do. Lifting a trophy is like the ultimate recognition to a great season."

**Hapoel has changed a lot throughout the season. Which are the main strengths right now?**

"Patrick Beverley left and another great player like Yam Madar arrived. We cannot highlight one player in particular. It is a very deep squad, they have 10 players with incredible talent. We have to watch their games carefully because they do have some new players even when they play very similar. Since Itoudis arrived, they play really good basketball and he has succeeded at improving their defense, too. We will see what kind of defense they play. I don't think they will switch as much as they did at the beginning of the season, or like Bahcesehir did in the semifinals, but the way that they play, it stops you from playing our own basketball style, play at our usual pace."

**Speaking about your playing style, what do you have to do well to win the EuroCup?**

"It all starts with good defense, stop them and control the rebounds. I think we have to run, play at a high pace. We have done this very well against Bahcesehir, and I think it is the way to go. When we run, we create mismatches, disadvantages on their defense, and that's when we feel comfortable. We have been sharing the ball well in this final part of the season. That will be crucial, too."

Javier Gancedo spoke to the Gran Canaria forward in the leadup to the EuroCup Finals

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Game 1 of the 2025 BKT EuroCup Finals.

EuroCup Finals, Game 1: Pregame quotes

## Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (tonight, 19:00 CEST)

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach**

"We are excited because we play the final. We are excited because we played against a great team like Valencia and we managed to win in the series of three. It was not easy to win against Valencia. They were dominant in the regular season. They proved that they had quality, but now it's a new reality for us. We are getting to the final against another Spanish and very quality team that has been together \[for several years+. They made certain accomplishments all these years. They have won the EuroCup in 2023 and are always there, so another difficult task. I like the fact that they are a team. They have a lot of good synergy because they have been together with their coaches over there for many years. Jaka \[Lakovic\] is doing a great job with his coaching staff and they have a lot of automatisms, meaning that they have a good chemistry. They are sized, can run the floor and can play well also five on five. They have scorers. They have big guys that they can shoot, they can spread, can go big ball, small ball, whatever it is. They can do several things well.

"There is not one key, a if it was one key, I would not say to you, I would not share it. But there is not just one key. There are a lot of things. It's an accumulation of small things that there has to be done in order to win. And we take it: this is a series of three games and we play against, as I said, a very serious team that knows what to do and what wants to do on the court. The fact that we play them twice is irrelevant. It's relevant up to one certain point because the teams have played together, but both teams were missing significant players. So you get some kind of a good feeling of what they are capable of doing but right now it's a different story. Right now it's a final. So we approach the first game very seriously."

**Ish Wainright, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv forward**

"Gran Canaria is like Valencia in a way, probably a little bit more bigger than Valencia. They are aggressive, too, but we played against them twice. We know what they can do. I'm pretty sure they are going to change up a few things like they did against us, but I know they are looking forward to this. This is the Finals and everyone wants to play them, everybody wants to get here and win. I know they are going to come here with a chip on their shoulder, especially because we beat them twice in the regular season. So I'm pretty sure they have a chip on their shoulders, for sure. They have a great core but also a great bench, with guys coming off the bench that take care of business. We have to lock in on our game plan and play defense. That's one thing that we are going to really have: to lock in defense. Our offense is going to come, get out in transition and play. We also have to make sure that we run our plays, that we know that we can score. And of course, take care of the ball."

**Marcus Foster, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv guard**

"This is what we've been talking about all season. Individually, for my career, I never thought I'd be in a game like this, so of course I'm excited. Ready to play. With the team we built, I think we can never really, truly be an underdog with the people we have on our team. But you know, it's basketball at the end of the day, so you have to show up and play your best basketball in order to win. They are very talented and can do many different things. They have an inside presence. They also shoot the ball very well. And when they play in the ACB, they have seen all type of competition, all types of lineups, so it helps them prepare for moments like this. So I think they are very well coached team and they have very talented players. I'm excited to play in front of our fans. I'm just thankful that all the fans come here and they show up for us and hopefully we wull give them a good game."

**Jaka Lakovic, Dreamland Gran Canaria head coach**

"I think the team feels good. I think we are in a good place, in a good moment, with good confidence and mentality to face this final series against Hapoel Tel Aviv. I think it's a team with extreme physical talent. Of course, it's a team that has invested a lot of money in their roster, full of players with top-level experience. I think they play very good basketball, different from us, because they have talent, they have the ability to play the way they play. We have to be prepared, prepare well for what we are going to face in this series. I think it's an advantage \[to have seven winning players in Gran Canaria's roster\] above all because of the experience. We know what we can expect but apart from that, it's a new final series. It's a new game against a team that we have already faced in the regular season. We have to face them in a different way. It is a new series in which everything starts from scratch. We have confidence and hope to compete well and have our options."

**Andrew Albicy, Dreamland Gran Canaria guard**

"We are very focused. We are looking very focused, we can't wait to start the final. They are a very talented player with strong individualities. They are good on every spot, so we need to be ready. First of all, we have to be very focused and smart, because there is a lot of pressure. But that pressure can give us energy, so it's good to take like that energy and use against the pressure. And just like I always say, defense wins championships, so we have to be very focused to play strong defense, as a team. After that, on offense, we have to share the ball, read what they want to do and take what our defense will give us. It was a different moment of the season. I think we are in a very good moment right now. We are confident about what we can do and like I say, it's the final, so the mentality is completely different. Maybe after these two losses against them, we will have an advantage. Maybe they won't respect as much as they are supposed to do but again, it's a final. Each team will give everything to win."

**Mike Tobey, Dreamland Gran Canaria center**

"We have been doing a good job lately, it is great timing to have good moment and I think we are definitely in one of our best moments of the season, if not the best. So good time for it to happen. Hapoel s a really talented team. This summer they made a lot of noise with a lot of big signings. They have a great coach as well, and are a complete team with a lot of talent that plays really physical. They are in the EuroCup for a reason, they have definitely been one of the best teams this whole season. Anytime you have an experience, that is always something good to have on your side, so having seven guys that have done it before is great. I have been in this position, we all can feed off of that experience but at the same time, every championship run is different and unique. It's good that we have been here. We have got that experience but know that this one's going to be different for us as well. We won some close games lately. It gives us confidence that if the game is close or even if we are down towards the end, we still have a chance to win it. We won two games recently with like last-second shots, which is always an exciting thing to have happened. But it also gives us the confidence to know that we have been in that position, especially even really recently. So if we are in that position again, to just be confident and know that we can win in that spot. Physicality is a big thing in this series, and defense is going to be huge. We know .how offensively talented they are and how they want to play on defense."

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Game 1 of the 2025 BKT EuroCup Finals

Euroleague.net's Geoff Gillingham offers his fantasy recommendations for the BKT EuroCup Finals series between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Gran Canaria.

Geoff Gillingham’s fantasy tips for the EuroCup Finals

With Javier Gancedo already out in Bulgaria ahead of Game 1 of the 2025 BKT EuroCup Finals, it’s me, Geoff Gillingham, back in the hot seat for this week’s tips in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge.

Last week I had a 50% success rate with my picks, with the severity of Chris Jones’s knee injury really shooting me in the foot as he was a DNP. Still, I hope some of you followed my advice and picked Antonio Blakeney as he had 33.0 fantasy points in Game 3. Caleb Homesley also did well with 16.5 fantasy points, but Marko Simonovic let me down with just 3.0 fantasy points.

Looking ahead to the EuroCup Finals, these five players are all in my EuroCup Fantasy Challenge team and I feel pretty good that they will perform through the first two games of the series.

### Johnathan Motley, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (17.3 credits)

For me, [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) is the best player in this series and has the chance to absolutely dominate on the offensive end. He’s expensive, I know, but picking him is going to be worth it. Trust me.

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DG4KQs-iUzT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Johnathan Motley (@moneymot5)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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### Antonio Blakeney, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (12.2 credits)

I had to stick with [Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/), right? He showed out in Game 3 of the semifinals and seems to have hit top gear at the perfect time. Even though he won’t have it easy against defensive pest Andrew Albicy, Blakeney is capable of going off in these finals.

### Caleb Homesley, Dreamland Gran Canaria (10.1 credits)

Another familiar face from last week. [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/) is Gran Canaria’s leading scorer this season and he’ll be one of the team’s go-to men when it comes to putting points on the board. That should spell good news for fantasy managers.

<center>
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### John Shurna, Dreamland Gran Canaria (8.1 credits)

Let’s not forget that [John Shurna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/john-shurna/006588/) was the EuroCup Final MVP just two years ago. That was a one-legged final, but his experience and know-how will be crucial for Gran Canaria in this series. If Shurna gets the green light, he can cause damage in these finals.

### Bar Timor, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (7.6 credits)

Often overshadowed by his teammates but an important piece nonetheless, [Bar Timor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bar-timor/004846/) plays an important role for Hapoel off the bench. His playmaking makes him a key player and a high-upside player in fantasy.

Euroleague.net's Geoff Gillingham offers his recommendations for the series between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Gran Canaria

Stats review: A look at the finals

The two best teams in the BKT EuroCup on paper got outdueled in a pair of intense semifinal series making way for a matchup between the competition’s hottest team, [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/?season=2024-25), and one of its most successful clubs in recent history, [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/?season=2024-25). Both of those clubs did things the hard way to get the finals with Gran Canaria [losing Game 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-overpowers-gran-canaria-74-66-in-game-1-of-semifinals/) to [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/?season=2024-25) before winning the next two games by a combined 5 points and Hapoel [dropping Game 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-outlasts-hapoel-at-home-91-82/) to [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/?season=2024-25) before winning the next two games by a total of 7 points. 

Finishing the season ranked second in defensive efficiency, Gran Canaria did just enough offensively to let its strength on the other end guide it through the semifinals. In contrast, Hapoel averaged 95 points per game over its last two games with Valencia as the team's talent level offensively and the outbursts of [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/), [Marcus Foster](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marcus-foster/010386/), and [Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/) propelled it to victory. As of Game 3, Hapoel has taken over the top spot in the EuroCup in offensive efficiency on the season overall surpassing Valencia by a hundredth of a point per possession following their head-to-heads.

The battle between Hapoel’s high-powered offense and Gran Canaria’s defense is the marquee matchup in this series. Coach Dimitris Itoudis’s team has multiple ball handlers who can create their own shots at a high level and score consistently in midrange spots. The pressure their three-level scorers put on opposing defenses and the activity level of their big men has helped them lead the EuroCup in cut scoring as well.

Gran Canaria has defended pick-and-rolls and basket cuts as well as any team in recent EuroCup history. While Hapoel has created an impressive 1.03 points per possession out of ball screens, Gran Canaria has allowed just 0.88 points per possession. While some teams achieve that level of success defensively by being disruptive, Coach Jaka Lakovic’s team has built its resume largely on its discipline contesting shots.

It will be interesting to see how the lineups shake out in the finals as Hapoel leaned heavily on its top seven in the semifinals while Gran Canaria has utilized its depth all year playing their starters only marginally more than their reserves.  With their strong play defensively built on a group effort, but Hapoel having several dynamic guards, it will be fascinating to see how they approach substitution patterns as Hapoel has had several players get extremely hot on a game-to-game basis to get to this point.

As much as Gran Canaria values its depth, it has often been the play of [Nicolas Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/), [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/), and [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) that has set its ceiling offensively.  In the regular season matchups between these two teams, Gran Canaria averaged just 65 points per game losing both games.  Those three scored only 0.71 points per possession in those games—well below their 0.88 season average.

How that trio stacks up with Hapoel’s high-scoring backcourt will surely play an important role in what should be a very compelling strength-on-strength matchup.

Hapoel and Gran Canaria make up an interesting finals matchup

The BKT EuroCup is pleased to announce that Jared Harper of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem has been selected as the 2024–25 BKT EuroCup Most Valuable Player. Harper delivered a season for the ages, combining electric scoring, elite playmaking and record-setting efficiency to lead his team and captivate fans across the continent

Jerusalem's Jared Harper named BKT EuroCup MVP for 2024-25

The BKT EuroCup is pleased to announce that [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) of [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/jer/?season=2024-25) has been selected as the 2024–25 BKT EuroCup Most Valuable Player. Harper delivered a season for the ages, combining electric scoring, elite playmaking and record-setting efficiency to lead his team and captivate fans across the continent. 

The MVP selection was determined through a vote among EuroCup head coaches (35%), team captains (35%), media representatives (20%) and fans (10%). The BKT EuroCup congratulates Harper on a historic season and well-deserved MVP recognition.

Harper's 2024–25 campaign will be remembered not only for the numbers he posted, but for the way he elevated his team and brought excitement to every game. He led the EuroCup in scoring with an eye-popping average of 22.8 points per game – the highest by any player since [Milan Gurovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/milan-gurovic/abc/)'s 25.9 points for Crvena Zvezda Belgrade in the 2006–07 season. He also topped all players in Performance Index Rating with 27.2, a testament to his consistent all-around excellence. In addition, Harper ranked third in assists (5.7 apg), further showcasing his dynamic impact on the game.

The 26-year-old guard not only led statistically, he rewrote the EuroCup record books. Harper set new single-season marks for fouls drawn (142), free throws made (174), and free throws attempted (199), eclipsing the previous marks held by 2015–16 MVP [Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/errick-mccollum/005216/). Harper attempted at least 10 free throws in 12 of his 18 games, including four contests with 15 or more attempts, illustrating the pressure he placed on opposing defenses every night.

A model of consistency, Harper scored at least 14 points in every game this season. He reached the 30-point mark three times, highlighted by a season-high 35-point explosion in [a 94–77 road win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/harper-leads-jerusalem-in-77-94-comeback-win-over-turk-telekom/) over [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/?season=2024-25). His most complete performance came in Round 6 against [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/?season=2024-25), when he posted 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists for a PIR of 43 in [an 83–94 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/depleted-jerusalem-breezes-past-cedevita-83-94/). His 14-point, 15-assist double-double in [a Round 13 road win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/jerusalem-fights-back-to-down-aris-90-85-and-snap-skid/) over [Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-midea-thessaloniki/ari/?season=2024-25) matched the most assists by any player in a single EuroCup game this season.

Harper earned MVP of the Round honors five times – in [Rounds 2](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/round-2-mvp-jared-harper-hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/), [6](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/round-6-mvp-jared-harper-hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/), [9](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/round-9-mvp-jared-harper-hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/), [13 ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/round-13-mvp-jared-harper-hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/)and [17](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/round-17-mvp-jared-harper-hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/). That tied 2023-24 MVP [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) of Paris Basketball for the most in a single season in competition history. His efforts fueled Jerusalem to a second-place finsih in Group B with an 11–7 record. The team ultimately bowed out in the quarterfinals after a narrow loss to eventual finalist [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/). 

He joins a storied list of players to earn EuroCup MVP honors since the trophy was first handed out in 2009. The full list of EuroCup MVPs includes: [Chuck Eidson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/chuck-eidson/loc/) (2008-09, Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius), [Marko Banic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marko-banic/ats/) (2009-10, Bilbao Basket), [Dontaye Draper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dontaye-draper/002946/) (2010-11, Cedevita), [Patrick Beverley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/patrick-beverley/001927/) (2011-12, Spartak St. Petersburg), [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nick-calathes/001932/) (2012-13, Lokomotiv Kuban), [Drew Goudelock](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-goudelock/004903/) (2013-14, UNICS Kazan), [Tyrese Rice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyrese-rice/003367/) (2014-15, Khimki Moscow Region), [Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/errick-mccollum/005216/) (2015-16, Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul), [Alexey Shved](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/alexey-shved/kvz/) (2016-17 Khimki), [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/) (2017-18, Darussafaka Istanbul), [Luke Sikma](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/luke-sikma/006589/) (2018-19, ALBA Berlin), [Jamar Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/2020-21-7days-eurocup-mvp-jamar-smith-unics-kazan/) (2020-21, UNICS), [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/7days-eurocup-mvp-mam-jaiteh-virtus-segafedo-bologna/) (2021-22, Virtus Bologna), [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/7days-eurocup-mvp-jerian-grant-turk-telekom-ankara/) (2022-23, Turk Telekom Ankara) and [Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bkt-eurocup-mvp-2023-24-t-j-shorts-paris-basketball/) (2023-24, Paris Basketball). 

The mercurial guard rewrote the record book with a historic season 

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem announced on Monday that it has re-signed All-EuroCup First Team Jared Harper for another three seasons

Jerusalem re-ups star guard Jared Harper for 3 more years

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem announced on Monday that it has re-signed [All-EuroCup First Team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bkt-all-eurocup-2024-25-first-team/) guard [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/profile/011970/) for another three seasons. 

Harper (1.78 meter, 27 years old) joined the club last summer on a two-year deal. The new contract commits him to Jerusalem for the 2026-27 season with an option for the following season. 

His first season for Jerusalem in the EuroCup was nothing short of sensational as he led the competition in scoring with 22.7 points per game in and PIR with 27.2. He averaged the most points in the competition since the 2006-07 season.

Jared Harper Top Plays of the 2024 Regular Season

Moreover, Harper set EuroCup records for fouls drawn (142), free throws made (174), and free throws attempted (199) and tied the single-season mark with five MVP of the Round selections. He was third in the EuroCup with 5.7 assists per game in helping Jerusalem reach the quarterfinals after placing second in their regular season group.

"This is a big day for me and I'm happy," Harper said after signing the new deal. "I'm in a great situation, at a huge club led by people who want to take the team to the greatest places and are committed to the path that is just beginning. I'm looking forward to the \[Israeli League\] playoffs and for all of us to be able to experience our fans at their full strength and receive their energy. When I realized that I had everything I wanted in my team here - I really couldn't leave. Yalla Hapoel!"

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">ג׳ארד.<br>אדום.<br>לעוד 3 שנים.<br>לכל הפרטים &gt;&gt;&gt; <a href="https://t.co/5eV8wJTihy">https://t.co/5eV8wJTihy</a> <a href="https://t.co/tMwIcHdEOU">pic.twitter.com/tMwIcHdEOU</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1909146700096078081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hapoel is the second member of the Jerusalem backcourt to extend his contract in the Israeli capital this week after [Khadeen Carrington signed an extension](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/jerusalem-pens-khadeen-carrington-to-extension/) on Saturday.

A two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection at Auburn University, Harper began his professional career shuttling between the NBA and the G League. He played for the Phoenix Suns and Northern Arizona Suns in 2019-20, for the New York Knicks and Westchester Knicks the following season and for the New Orleans Pelicans and Brimingham Squadron in 2021-22. He then came to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, where he played two seasons for Valencia Basket before moving to Jerusalem.

More Hapoel Jerusalem news

The All-EuroCup First Team selection led the competition in scoring and PIR

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem announced on Saturday that Khadeen Carrington has agreed to terms on a contract extension for the 2025-2026 season

Jerusalem pens Khadeen Carrington to extension 

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem announced on Saturday that [Khadeen Carrington](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/khadeen-carrington/008912/) has agreed to terms on a contract extension for the 2025-2026 season. Carrington (1.87 meters, 29 years old) has already played three seasons with the club from the Israeli capital. He averaged 16.0 points, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 16 appearances in the BKT EuroCup for Jerusalem this season, including half as a starter. He ranked seventh in the competition in scoring as he helped Jerusalem finish second in their regular season group and reach the quarterfinals. In his time with Jerusalem, Carrington has helped the club win the Israeli State Cup twice.  

Best of Khadeen Carrington 2024-25

"I am happy to stay in a place that at this point has already become my first home," Carrington said in an announcement released by the club. "My connection to the city and the fans is part of who I am and Hapoel Jerusalem is a home and family for me. We still have a lot to achieve and I am sure and believe that we will meet the goals we have set for ourselves. To Hapoel fans, I want to say: believe in us, believe in our path and together we will reach new heights. Yalla Hapoel!"

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">דינו לא הולך לשום מקום! קאדין קרינגטון חתם בהפועל עד סוף עונת 25-26! לכל הפרטים &gt;&gt;&gt;<a href="https://t.co/Itxk3RQDvN">https://t.co/Itxk3RQDvN</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mz8gSGmTI7">pic.twitter.com/Mz8gSGmTI7</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1908572883246293483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This season was Carrington's third in the EuroCup after previous stints with Mornar Bar and AS Monaco. After playing college basketball at Seton Hall University, Carrington began his professional career with Mornar Bar in 2018. He has since played for Limburg United in Belgium, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany, Monaco, Betis Sevilla in Spain, and JDA Dijon Bourgogne in France.

The explosive scorer commits to a fourth season in the Israeli capital 