When Donatas Motiejunas agreed to join the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this week, many wondered what his exact role with the team will be and how he'll be able to fulfill it as his condition is still in question since he's coming off a back injury that has sidelined him for 45 games last season.

The 26-year-old Lithuanian international recently shed light to his physical shape and is eager to prove to all his doubters that he is better than ever. He also said the team's success is what he's focused on and how he can contribute to it.

”I’m going to prove it when I get on the floor.”

”I’m here to help the team win. I’m not here to look at my personal stats. If this team is going to make the playoffs and I’m going to help them, it’s going to put my value up regardless.”

“As long as we’re going to stay healthy, this team right now can make a big push.”

Head coach Alvin Gentry talked about his newest player and explained why he thinks the talented big man decided to join the Pelicans even if he generated interest from other teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers.

“The opportunity to play alongside a great player – obviously it makes the game easier. The system that we run is something that was appealing to him.”

With Anthony Davis being in the same frontcourt as him, Motiejunas understands what his role will be and he believes he can excel at it because that is his natural game.

”I’m a creator. I can take the ball to the paint, force the defense to collapse on me and dish the ball to (Davis), and without a lot of energy waste he can get an easy bucket.”

Motiejunas has proven in his first four years in the league that he can score in a variety of ways and can even serve as a stretch five. His ability to shoot from the outside and also create shots for himself will definitely help the Pelicans' cause and also get more open shots for Davis. Should he be able to deliver on his claim, it will be interesting to see how strong of a push the team will have as the season progresses.