Motley played high school basketball at North Shore High School in Houston, Texas under head coach David Green. He led his team to a 32–4 mark as a junior and a 30–5 mark in as a senior, winning back to back district championships. A top 100 recruit nationally, Motley committed to play at Baylor on September 12, 2012.[1]
College career
Motley blossomed into an All-American player as a junior for Baylor, leading the Bears to their first number one ranking as a program during the 2016–17 season.[2] At the close of the season, Motley was named the winner of the Karl Malone Award as the country's best college power forward.[3]
At the close of his junior season, Motley declared his eligibility for the 2017 NBA draft but did not hire an agent, leaving open the option to return to college.[4] He would later hire an agent before signing up for the 2017 NBA Draft Combine, thus ending any chances of returning for his senior year at Baylor.
Professional career
Dallas Mavericks (2017–2018)
After going undrafted in 2017 NBA draft, Motley signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks.[5] He became the first player in franchise history to sign such a deal. As a result, he got to split his time playing between the Mavericks and their G League affiliate, the Texas Legends. After recovering from a previous injury he had, Motley would make his official NBA debut on December 14, 2017, recording 4 points in two minutes under a 112–97 loss to the defending champion Golden State Warriors. On April 4, 2018, he scored a career high 26 points in a 106–113 loss to the Detroit Pistons.[6]
Los Angeles Clippers (2018–2020)
On July 23, 2018, Motley, along with the draft rights to Renaldas Seibutis, was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for the draft rights to Maarty Leunen and cash considerations.[7] He would be the league's first ever two-way contract to be traded to another team. Motley would become an unrestricted free agent on June 28, 2019[8] but the Clippers eventually re-signed him on July 25, 2019.[9]
On November 30, 2020, Motley signed a training camp deal with the Phoenix Suns,[10] but was waived on December 19.[11]