Brock Motum fends off NBL for big Asian move

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Former Australian Boomers forward Brock Motum has fended off strong NBL interest once again to play in a league made famous by former NBA stars such as Dwight Howard and Demarcus Cousins in recent years.

Motum, 35, will play in Taiwan in the TBPL this upcoming professional season after deciding to move on from the Japanese B League where he spent the past four seasons.

The team he will play for will be announced in the coming weeks.

Motum will join a league where Howard, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA champion, played with the Taiwan Beer Leopards and Taiwan Mustangs, while Cousins - a four-time NBA All-Star - led the Leopards to a championship during the 2023–2024 season.

"This opportunity came up in Taiwan in a growing and ambitious league with a top team," Motum told basketball.com.au.

"I am looking forward to living and playing in a new country. Another new experience and one I am working hard this off season to ensure I can be effective again."

Motum made the decision to stay in Asia despite interest in the NBL but said he sees himself playing back in Australia before he hangs up the boots.

It is believed the Illawarra Hawks had significant interest in the former Adelaide 36er, who hasn't played in the league since 2014.

"There was NBL interest this off season which I considered but this year it just wasn’t the right time," he said.

"Moving forward it will be a stronger consideration."

The 6'10" former Washington State University college star, who played alongside one of the NBA's greatest shooters of all-time in Klay Thompson at the Cougars, played one season at Levango Hakkaido before two seasons with the Shiga Lakes and this past season with the Toyama Grouses.

During his time in Japan, Motum was one of the most dangerous offensive weapons, scoring more than 4000 points during his four seasons and becoming the league's scoring champion for the 2024-25 season after averaging 21.4 points per game.

He leaves Japan as one of the most successful Aussies to have played in the B League and as one of the many green and gold products, who were pioneers in taking their talents to the country following a successful career in Europe.

"I wouldn’t say (leaving Japan) is emotional but it was definitely difficult," he said.

"It is a beautiful country where I have made many memories. It is a place I will hold in high regard for the rest of my life.

"Also it was the place that helped me fall back in love with basketball and where I had some of the best playing years of my career."

Motum, who moulded his skills at the Australian Institute of Sport - now the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, has had a successful professional career stretching back to 2013 after his college days at WSU.

He spent eight season in Europe playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Anadolu Efes as well as Virtus Bologna, Galatasaray, Valencia and Zalgiris. His stints included a Turkish League title and a Turkish Cup as well as two Lithuanian league championships and a Lithuanian Cup. He also made it to the EuroLeague final four, where he was a runner-up with Anadolu Efes.

Motum also played for the Boomers at the 2014 FIBA World Championships and at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, where he was an impact scorer off the bench, having one of his best games in an Australian uniform in the bronze medal game against Spain.

Despite playing more than a decade on the professional scene, Motum believes he still has plenty to offer on the court.

"I don’t plan on slowing down and I will continue to play as long as I can be effective at a high level," he said.

"I am always working on my game and my body especially in the off seasons to ensure I can continue to play at a high level for the foreseeable future."