Dejounte Murray didn’t have a great stint with the San Antonio Spurs, and he let the world know how the team played “mind games” with him.
The guard’s startling revelation comes on the back of the franchise celebrating its 50th Anniversary last week with much pomp and splendor.
Murray was selected by the Spurs with the 29th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, and it was during his time with the team that he made the first NBA All-Star team replacing Draymond Green. However, by his own admission, he didn’t have a good tenure with the team.
Speaking on Showtime’s ‘All The Smoke,’ Murray didn’t pull his punches while explaining how the Spurs treated him.
“It was a roller coaster, I used to go home mad. I had my uncle living with me, and I used to go home mad. Just from not understanding like where we come from, you won’t understand what they’re putting you through. I’d come to the arena, and they’re like, “you’re not dressing up today.” I don’t even got a sports jacket.
They try to give me a big ass sports jacket. Like, “Nah you can wear Pau Gasol’s sports jacket.” So for me, I’m like, there’s a lot being thrown at me, and I am like “I don’t like this bro. Then I am going home, and I am telling unc, I’m busting Tony’s ‘[Parker] ass in practice, Patty Mills, I’m locking him up.” Just give me five minutes, seven minutes.”
He further added:
“Then they send me to the G League, and as time starts going, they bring in a point guard from Argentina that’s close with Manu, playing in front of me. Mind you, I’m behind Tony and Patty, but they be playing these mind games. They are trying to see if they can break you. What they put me through, I don’t understand. I start hearing your name (points to Stephen Jackson).
Steve Jack went through a lot of BS. Obviously. I knew you were cold, so you ain’t even got to tell me. I was there six years, you feel what I am saying.
Jackson, who is one of the hosts on the podcast, agreed with Murray’s story while adding for good measure that he went through the same mind games when he played for the Spurs and even won a championship with them in 2003.
Dejounte Murray Gets Candid On The Atlanta Hawks’ Rocky Season
While Dejounte Murray has seen better days with the Hawks, all isn’t well in his new team either. The team has seen some rocky days with ample turmoil on and off the hardwood.
If it was the reported discontentment between Trae Young and coach Nate McMillan, the front office has seen some changes ringing in, leaving experts and fans perplexed. On his part, Murray was brutally honest about all the happenings in Atlanta and the trade rumors doing the rounds.
“I wouldn’t say more than what I expected, but more than where I came from in San Antonio where everything was just not as loud,” Murray continued. “There’s a lot going on, but for me I’m just trying to keep guys together with my leadership, showing up to work, working hard, being vocal and keeping us together, and trying to keep the outside noise the outside noise.
Murray noted his treatment with the Spurs then as well, but it wasn’t as detailed as it was in the podcast. For now, he’s just keen on staying focused and performing at his optimal best for the Hawks.
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