The Dejounte Murray experiment has been over since the end of June in Atlanta, after the latter's transfer to the Pelicans. It is also the end of a promise, that of a dominant duo alongside Trae Young.
The arrival of the former Spurs player had given rise to ambition, to get the Hawks out of the soft underbelly of the Eastern Conference. Two years later, the observation is implacable: 77 wins for 87 losses and only one first round of playoffs on the clock for a team without any relief. A failed experiment then.
“There were good times and bad times,” concedes Trae Young for Paul George's podcast. “The only downside is not having won as much as we wanted. The good times are our relationship, which goes beyond the court.”
As the All-Star says, from a sporting perspective, this transfer did not bring anything positive. “It didn't work out, unfortunately. We're not the first, and probably not the last, duo to fail.”he admits.
But why did these two good players fail to help the Hawks progress? Were they really compatible? “We’re both team players. Murray was known as a defender in San Antonio, not a scorer. We rotated positions, one at point guard, the other at guard to find the rhythm. There were times when I tried to make him shine, but he’s a pure playmaker. He doesn’t try to score. It’s a shame we couldn’t work together,” concludes Trae Young.
| Trae Young | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | ATL | 81 | 31 | 41.8 | 32.4 | 82.9 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 8.1 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2019-20 | ATL | 60 | 35 | 43.7 | 36.1 | 86.0 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 4.8 | 0.1 | 29.6 |
| 2020-21 | ATL | 63 | 34 | 43.8 | 34.3 | 88.6 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 25.3 |
| 2021-22 | ATL | 76 | 35 | 46.0 | 38.2 | 90.4 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 9.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 28.4 |
| 2022-23 | ATL | 73 | 35 | 42.9 | 33.5 | 88.6 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 10.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 0.1 | 26.2 |
| 2023-24 | ATL | 54 | 36 | 43.0 | 37.3 | 85.5 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 10.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 25.7 |
| Total | 407 | 34 | 43.6 | 35.5 | 87.3 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 9.5 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 4.2 | 0.2 | 25.5 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
