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Dejounte Murray: A Most Improved Player Spotlight

Brian Paul
Dejounte Murray

CHICAGO, USA - OCTOBER 21: Dejounte Murray of San Antonio Spurs in action during a preseason NBA game between Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs at the United Center on October 21, 2017 in Chicago, United States. (Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Dejounte Murray is a player who is overlooked often. From ranking 49th in a high school class headlined by Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, and Jaylen Brown; to being drafted by the low-key San Antonio Spurs organization with the 29th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Even in the midst of a breakout season that should garner Most Improved and All-Star consideration, Murray’s name is rarely mentioned among top NBA guards. With the incredible season Murray is having, that should all start to change.

Dejounte Murray: A Most Improved Player Spotlight

Dejounte Murray: The Numbers

This season, Murray is averaging career highs in points (17.8), rebounds (8.4), assists (8.8, 4th in NBA), and steals (2.0, fifth in the NBA). He leads the Spurs in each aforementioned category except rebounds, where he ranks second. Murray’s excellent play on both ends of the floor leads a competitive Spurs team that currently sits at 10th in the grueling Western Conference.

As a result of veterans DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge leaving San Antonio, Murray has been placed at the forefront of San Antonio’s youth movement. Tasked with more playmaking and creation responsibilities than ever before, Murray is flourishing in his feature role.

Murray’s Premier Offensive Skill Set

After the departure of DeRozan in the offseason, Murray has absorbed the role of primary creator in San Antonio’s offense. Despite this, Murray has maintained a relatively low turnover frequency (9.9%, 88th percentile among point guards per Cleaning The Glass).

Pocket Passing is a Dejounte Murray Staple

Murray is an excellent passer, mainly showcasing this ability by delivering precise pocket passes in pick and roll actions. He has a sixth sense of knowing where his roll man is in relation to the defense, even demonstrating the ability to manipulate the defense with jumps and head fakes to deliver dimes to his big men. He and starter, Jakob Poeltl, have awesome chemistry in this two-man game.

Take note of Murray’s patience throughout. Since He rarely gets sped up by the defense, another great trait of his that is evident in his entire offensive game, allowing him to read the defense well and find teammates on the move.

Savvy Shot Creation

When he looks to score, Murray prefers to work in the mid-range area around the free-throw line and finish at the paint. As a result, half of Murray’s shot attempts come in the mid-range.  He also is converting 67 percent of his shots at the rim, which ranks in the 90th percentile of point guards.

Murray’s height and length (6’4” with a 6’10” wingspan) make for a high release point that allows for success against smaller, as well as bigger and longer defenders. He uses a jump stop often to create space and balance himself before rising up into his jumper.

Murray’s poise on the offensive end has allowed him to serve as a floor-raiser on that end for San Antonio. With Murray on the floor, the Spurs offense produces 112.3 points per 100 possessions; which would rank fourth in the NBA just behind the Golden State Warriors. Without Murray, the Spurs offensive rating tumbles to 108.3; which would rank 20th in the NBA.

Murray has grown into a premier offensive creator this season, showcasing improvement in many areas of the game. He’s a poised playmaker and shot creator who has rarely looked overmatched as the offensive engine of the Spurs.

Dejounte Murray Remains an Elite Defender

Despite this greater offensive responsibility, Dejounte Murray has maintained his status as an elite perimeter defender. Murray typically guards the opposing team’s best guard throughout the course of a game. In a conference headlined by elite guards such as Luka Doncic and Chris Paul, this is no small feat. Consequently, these are two players Murray has matched up the most with this season so far.

Murray uses his length well on and off the ball, pestering ball-handlers and wreaking havoc in the passing lanes. He leads the NBA in total deflections with 117, and his 3.9 deflections per 36 rank in the 96th percentile of all players. He and teammate Derrick White have formed one of the league’s best defensive backcourt tandems.

Dejounte Murray’s outstanding production on both ends should not go unnoticed any longer. Nearly every facet of Murray’s game has improved. His growth into the unquestioned leader on the floor every night for this young, fiery Spurs team is amazing.

As San Antonio transitions into a new era of Spurs basketball, Dejounte Murray is next in line as the two-way star whose impact does not generate much nationwide attention. As Murray’s outstanding season continues, the noise for a Most Improved Player award will become too loud to ignore.

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