Drafted by Adam Silver after Draymond Green’s injury, Dejounte Murray did not miss his first appointment with the All-Star Game since he compiled 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in Cleveland.
“We had the impression that he was in his element”commented Lonnie Walker IV at the San Antonio Express News.
The Spurs point guard was already having a very good individual season with 19.9 points, 9.3 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2 steals on average (third passer and best ball stealer in the league), and inevitably, this new All-Star status imposes .
“With him, any player who finds himself faced with an obstacle can reflect on his story, on what he has been through”recalls Lonnie Walker IV. “He made the crusaders and he came back stronger than ever. His story speaks for itself. “
So that he is an example for the young Texan locker room, where eight players are under 25 years old.
“We saw his work ethic and the time he devoted to it”says Keldon Johnson. “He worked so hard for this moment. It motivates me even more when I see where he is. I witnessed it. I still have a lot to do to reach this level. “
A standard to assume
Moved to see his teammate on the floor of the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with the other stars of the league, Devin Vassell shares this idea that Dejounte Murray is now a model for him and his comrades.
“I was so happy for him, to see him there. The work he did to be rewarded was enormous. It’s motivating. He is one of my peers and to see him achieve such a feat is amazing. “
Dejounte Murray was also, at the start of his career, one of those young people who looked to Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard or even LaMarcus Aldridge as examples, in order to motivate himself to become a great player. Today he’s on the other side, and that’s a new responsibility according to Gregg Popovich.
“When we get to that level, we expect the player to be there every night”says the San Antonio coach. “It’s a level that a lot of players don’t reach. It’s a huge responsibility, both mental and physical. He understood it. “
| Dejounte Murray | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2016-17 | SAN | 38 | 9 | 43.1 | 39.1 | 70.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 3.4 |
| 2017-18 | SAN | 81 | 22 | 44.3 | 26.5 | 70.9 | 1.4 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 8.1 |
| 2019-20 | SAN | 66 | 26 | 46.2 | 36.9 | 79.8 | 1.1 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 10.9 |
| 2020-21 | SAN | 67 | 32 | 45.3 | 31.7 | 79.1 | 0.9 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 15.7 |
| 2021-22 | SAN | 46 | 34 | 45.2 | 31.8 | 74.0 | 1.3 | 7.1 | 8.5 | 9.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 19.6 |
| Total | 298 | 25 | 45.2 | 32.7 | 75.4 | 1.0 | 4.8 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 11.6 | |
