Dejounte Murray Pairs Effective Offense with Elite Defense

Out of high school, Dejounte Murray rose to the top of the state of Washington rankings earning him four-star status. He decided to stay home and committed to the Washington Huskies over programs such as Oregon and Gonzaga. 

After a super impressive freshman campaign, Murray declared for the NBA Draft. He slid down the board but was ultimately selected with the 29th pick by the San Antonio Spurs. 

Murray struggled to stay on the floor due to inconsistent offensive performances in his rookie year but showcased flashes of defensive greatness. The productive defense translated into his sophomore campaign, where he started 48 games and earned All-Defensive Second Team honors.

His defensive play earned him a starting role for the Spurs, but his offense still lagged behind. However, last season, he finally put the pieces together and averaged 21.1 points per game, along with his league-leading two steals per game and stout defense, resulting in his first All-Star Game appearance.

Following his successful year, Murray was dealt to the Hawks to pair with Trae Young in an elite backcourt. As a member of Atlanta, he has continued this impressive scoring load with 22.3 points per game through 10 contests. He is also shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 35.9 percent on three-pointers.

Most impressively, in his four games during November, Murray has exploded for 27.3 points per game, including a 36-point outburst against the Knicks. This stretch has come at an important time, leading the Hawks to a 3-1 record in the span. His offense isn’t the only thing jumping off the page, though.

Murray’s defense has remained a key part of his game, making him an effective starter for a contending team. Looking at advanced metrics, he currently holds a 1.7 Defensive Box Plus/Minus and 0.6 Defensive Win Share. Alongside this game-changing defense and scoring ability, Murray also fills up the box score with 8.4 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game.

Murray’s all-around play makes him a serious candidate to take a spot on an All-NBA team and a second All-Star game appearance. If he can continue this team-leading play, the Hawks may also end up as a real threat in the East.