Dejounte Murray Reveals How Deeply He Was Scouted Before The NBA Draft: “It’s Really Federal”

Dejounte Murray reveals how deeply teams in the NBA investigated his past when he entered the Draft.

4 Min Read

Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Dejounte Murray ended up being one of the success stories of the 2016 NBA Draft despite many factors working against him. Murray came into the league with a history of problems, including a stint in juvenile detention. However, when you can ball out the way Dejounte can, teams will take a chance on you.

Murray fell to the 29th pick in the 2016 Draft, and the San Antonio Spurs took a chance on him. Despite players in the organization trying to hold his development back, Murray evolved into an All-Star and was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. 

Prior to his being drafted by the Spurs, Murray revealed that teams were going to extreme lengths to get information about him and his childhood to ensure he was worthy of being a first-round pick. 

“I worked out for 6 or 7 teams, and a majority of them promised me. Everyone was like, ‘don’t go to the combine’, Rich (Paul) was like ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea to the combine,’ just from the information he had. That bothers me to this day and shows how cutthroat this business is. I was honest with them. The information they wanted to get on me, they went everywhere. They went to middle schools, high schools, janitors, juveniles, and random people. I had so many random people like, ‘yo, they came up to me.’ The janitor at U-Dub, when I made it and came back to work out, he was like, they came and asked him, ‘did he ever disrespect you? Was he mean? Was he nice?’ That’s when I realized, it’s really federal, they really investigating here.”

It all worked out for Dejounte in the end, but his experience shows that NBA teams are looking for more than just talent. Murray could’ve definitely gone higher based on his skillset and college production alone, but his off-court issues as a child definitely impacted the position he was selected in.


Will Dejounte Murray Return To All-Star Form?

Murray made his first-ever All-Star appearance last season but seems very far removed from the conversation amidst a challenging debut season with the Hawks. The team is decidedly average, and they’re still trying to figure out how to play with Trae Young and Murray in the backcourt.

He has all the talent to return to that level. His rhythm in a game gets hurt by sharing the ball with Trae, something he needs to figure out ASAP for his personal success as well as team success. As the season has gone on, Murray has improved, but it’s not nearly enough to be an All-star this season. Maybe Murray can return to that conversation in the coming years. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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