Donatas Motiejūnas
A skilled Lithuanian big man whose sophisticated post game and passing vision made him a unique and coveted talent across the NBA and EuroLeague.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Lithuanian basketball player·Birthday: September 20·Millennials
Biography
Donatas Motiejūnas brought a distinctly European elegance to the basketball court, a seven-footer who played with the finesse and savvy of a guard. Drafted into the NBA in 2011, his time with the Houston Rockets showcased his versatile offensive toolkit: deft footwork in the paint, a reliable three-point shot, and an uncanny ability to find cutters with pinpoint passes. While injuries and the NBA's evolving style sometimes limited his role, his peak seasons in Houston proved he could be a foundational offensive piece. His career took a fascinating turn when he returned to Europe, where his skill set is highly prized. Becoming a star for AS Monaco and later Crvena zvezda, he re-established himself as a dominant force, winning league titles and competing at the highest level of the EuroLeague. Motiejūnas's path illustrates the global nature of modern basketball, where a player's value can be maximized on different continents, adapting his game to lead teams to championships.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Donatas was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Donatas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Donatas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the French Pro A League championship and was named Finals MVP with AS Monaco in 2023.
- Averaged 12.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the 2014-15 NBA season as a starting power forward for the Houston Rockets.
- Led Žalgiris Kaunas to a Lithuanian League (LKL) championship in 2011 before being drafted to the NBA.
Did You Know?
His nickname is 'D-Mo', a shortening of his last name.
He was part of a complicated contract dispute in 2016 where a trade to the Detroit Pistons was voided due to a failed physical, making him a restricted free agent.
He speaks four languages: Lithuanian, English, Polish, and Russian.
“I play basketball with my mind and my feet, not just my height.”
