EuroCup Round 1 MVP: Johnathan Motley, Lokomotiv

Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar center Johnathan Motley recorded a debut for the ages in the 7DAYS EuroCup to earn MVP honors for Round 1 of the regular season. Motley went for 29 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in leading Lokomotiv to a 93-82 victory over MoraBanc Andorra. He made 10 of 12 shots from the field and 9 of 10 from the foul line. Motley also drew 9 fouls in compiling a performance index rating of 39, which led all players in Round 1. Kevin Punter of Partizan NIS Belgrade was a close second with a PIR of 38 after leading his team to a 97-106 victory at Hamburg Towers. The Partizan scorer made all 8 of his two-pointers and all 7 of his free throws in scoring 26 points. He added 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 10 fouls drawn. One of Motley’s teammates was third on the weekly list with a PIR of 32; Darius Thompson scored 20 points, dished 5 assists and collected 4 steals. Thompson had a near-perfect shooting night; he was 8 for 8 on two-pointers and 4 for 4 on free throws with his only missed shots coming from behind the three-point line. Rounding out the top performances for the round were a pair of guards who squared off in Turkey. Alex Perez led Turk Telekom Ankara to a 73-65 victory over Boulogne Metropolitans 92 and Will Cummings. Perez has 18 points, 13 assists and 4 steals for a PIR of 31 and Cummins scored 26 points and amassed a PIR of 29.

Not only was Johnathan Motley the Round 1 MVP, but he was also the top scorer with 29 points. Mitchell Watt of Umana Reyer Venice led all players with 12 rebounds. The 13 assists recorded by Turk Telekom Ankara playmaker Alex Perez topped the charts. Three players shared first place with 4 steals apiece in Round 1: Vince Hunter of Metropolitans, Perez, and Darius Thompson. No players had more blocks than Gran Canaria big man Khalifa Diop and Turk Telekom center Octavius Ellis, who each rejected 3 shots. Three players started the season with double-doubles on opening night: Perez, Jordan Caroline (12 points, 11 rebounds) of Dolomiti Energia Trento and Watt (16 points, 12 rebounds).