sportingnews
Dejounte Murray, once considered the future of the San Antonio Spurs, had his tenure with the team end abruptly when he was traded in 2022. The Spurs had selected him in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft with the hope that he would eventually take over as the starting point guard from Tony Parker. However, Murray's early years were marked by a struggle for playing time, and he now believes the team was excessively hard on him.
In a recent appearance on the "All the Smoke" podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Murray discussed a range of topics, including the end of his Spurs career, which culminated in a trade to the Atlanta Hawks. He argued that the organization did not embrace him and that he was not given the playing time he had earned. Murray felt he had to wait too long to find his rhythm in the NBA.
Murray's Frustration with Playing Time
Murray explained that he believed he was performing well in practice, even getting the better of both Tony Parker and Patty Mills. Yet, the team did not elevate his standing. Instead, the Spurs played other depth players over him, which led Murray to request a trade during his rookie season. "They playing other guys that was second round picks, undrafted in front of me," Murray said. "Now I'm just like, what's going on? I'm hitting Rich [Paul]. I'm like, 'I gotta get traded.' He's like, 'You ain't got no value.' I'm like, this is too much. What did they put me through, I don't understand."
Murray elaborated on his practice performances: "I'm busting Tony's ass in practice. I'm busting Patty Mills ass in practice. I'm locking them up. I'm like, damn, give me five minutes, give me seven minutes. Then they send me to the G League. Then as time start going, they bringing a point guard from Argentina that's close with Manu, playing in front of me. And mind you I'm behind Tony, Patty, but they playing these mind games. They trying to see if they could break me, not knowing you can't break me. They want you to break yourself. And they doing that though. I'm at home tripping. They playing other guys that was second round picks, undrafted in front of me. Now I'm just like, what's going on? I'm hitting Rich [Paul]. I'm like, I gotta get traded. He's like, You ain't got no value. I'm like, this is too much. What did they put me through, I don't understand."
Despite his trade request, Murray remained with the Spurs. He played just 38 games in his rookie season but had a much-improved sophomore campaign and went on to play three more seasons with the team, steadily improving each year.
Tony Parker's Lack of Mentorship
Murray also addressed his relationship with Tony Parker, who overlapped with him for two seasons. Murray claimed that Parker had no interest in mentoring him, which he believes is partly why Parker spent the final season of his career with the Charlotte Hornets. "I know he didn't like it, because if he liked it, he would have mentored me the way he should have," Murray said. "He wouldn't have went to Charlotte. He would have stayed right there."
Murray described the moment he took over the starting job: "My second year I come back obviously getting stronger, getting better, and then that was the year I took the job from Tony. Pop brought us in the office, he told Tony. Tony ain't like it. I know he didn't like it, because if he liked it, he would have mentored me the way he should have. He wouldn't have went to Charlotte. He would have stayed right there."
Murray's best season with San Antonio came in his final year, when he made his only All-Star appearance, led the league in steals per game, and averaged over 20 points per game for the first time. So, despite his early issues with the team, he did become one of the team's better players. Since leaving San Antonio, Murray has not quite reached the level he displayed in that last season with the Spurs. According to him, though, it could have come much sooner.
Originally reported by sportingnews.