Dejounte Murray Bio
Dejounte Dashaun Murray is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 6-foot-4 point guard played one season of college basketball at the University of Washington before being selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 29th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. Across his career, Murray has developed into one of the league’s most well-rounded guards, earning recognition for his scoring, rebounding, playmaking, and perimeter defense. In 2022, he was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game and led the league in steals.
Early Life and Background
Dejounte Dashaun Murray was born on September 19, 1996, in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in the impoverished South End area of the city, where he was exposed to gun violence, drug activity, homelessness, and the incarceration of a parent. Before high school, Murray spent time in juvenile detention, an experience that helped redirect his focus toward basketball. The challenges of his upbringing shaped a competitive mindset that has carried through his professional career.
Path to Basketball
Murray attended Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, a program known for producing NBA talent such as Jamal Crawford, Doug Christie, Terrence Williams, Nate Robinson, and Kevin Porter Jr. Crawford personally encouraged Murray to take the game seriously, and the mentorship helped accelerate his development. He led the Vikings to three Class 3A state championships and was recognized as Washington Mr. Basketball by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association and State Player of the Year by The Seattle Times. He also earned first-team Parade All-American honors in 2015.
As a freshman at the University of Washington in 2015–16, Murray was named second-team All-Pac-12 and to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. He averaged 16.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.8 steals in 33.5 minutes while starting all 34 games. On March 23, 2016, he declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
Dejounte Murray Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Murray joined the San Antonio Spurs for the 2016 NBA Summer League and signed his rookie-scale contract on July 14, 2016. He made his NBA debut on October 29, 2016, recording two rebounds and one assist in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Throughout his rookie season, he split time between the Spurs and their NBA Development League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, gaining valuable experience. When Tony Parker suffered a leg injury in the 2017 playoffs, Murray was thrust into the starting lineup and helped San Antonio advance past the Houston Rockets, becoming just the fourth rookie in Spurs history to record a point-rebound double-double in a postseason game.
San Antonio Spurs Breakthrough (2018–2022)
In his second season, Murray became a regular starter and set a franchise record for rebounds in a season by a point guard. He also became the first player since Kawhi Leonard to record 500 points and 300 rebounds in his first 100 games with the Spurs. At season’s end, Murray earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors, becoming the youngest player in league history at that time to be named to an All-Defense squad. In October 2018, he suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in a preseason game and missed the entire 2018–19 season.
Back healthy, Murray agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract extension with the Spurs in October 2019, a deal that could reach $70 million with incentives. On December 26, 2020, he recorded his first career triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win against the Toronto Raptors. In February 2022, Murray was named to his first NBA All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Draymond Green. He finished second behind Ja Morant in voting for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and departed San Antonio as the franchise’s all-time leader in career triple-doubles.
Atlanta Hawks Era (2022–2024)
On June 30, 2022, Murray was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and quickly became a primary scoring option. He opened his Hawks tenure with 20 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, and five steals against the Houston Rockets, and later recorded a then-career-high 40 points against the Portland Trail Blazers in January 2023. On July 9, 2023, he signed a four-year, $120 million extension through the 2027–28 season. The following season, Murray posted a career-high 44 points, including a game-winning mid-range jumper in an overtime victory over the Boston Celtics on March 28, 2024.
New Orleans Pelicans Era (2024–Present)
On July 6, 2024, Murray was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. In 31 starts during the 2024–25 NBA season, he averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists, establishing himself as a central playmaker for the franchise. On January 31, 2025, Murray suffered a torn right Achilles tendon against the Boston Celtics, ending his season. He returned to action on February 24, 2026, posting 13 points, three assists, and two rebounds in a win over the Golden State Warriors, and later compiled 35 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and one steal in a loss to the Houston Rockets on March 13, 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Though best described as a complete guard rather than a pure scorer, Murray combines aggressive downhill drives with strong court vision and tenacious perimeter defense. His length and anticipation help him generate steals, while his rebounding from the point guard position fuels transition opportunities. He has built a reputation for steady late-game shot-making, with multiple game-winning baskets during his Hawks tenure.
Notable Events and Milestones
Murray’s career milestones include his first career triple-double in 2020, his 2022 NBA All-Star selection, the NBA steals title that same year, and a career-high 44-point performance against the Boston Celtics in March 2024. He also became the youngest player in Spurs history to earn an All-Defensive selection at the time of his 2018 honor.
Dejounte Murray Career Wins
Dejounte Dashaun Murray has accumulated notable individual accolades across college and professional basketball, even though his teams have not captured an NBA championship. His trophy case includes Washington Mr. Basketball, first-team Parade All-American, second-team All-Pac-12, NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and an NBA All-Star selection. He also led the NBA in steals during the 2021–22 season and finished second in Most Improved Player voting that year.
NBA Highlights
Murray’s NBA resume features steady growth from rotational rookie to multi-time All-Star. He earned All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2018 and was named an All-Star and steals leader in 2022. With the Atlanta Hawks, he set several career scoring highs, including a 44-point performance against the Boston Celtics in March 2024. With the New Orleans Pelicans, he has continued to deliver double-digit scoring and playmaking production.
Other Wins & Performances
At Rainier Beach High School, Murray led the Vikings to three Class 3A state championships and was honored as the top high school player in Washington. In college, he was a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection and second-team All-Pac-12 honoree during his lone season at the University of Washington.
Dejounte Murray Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Murray’s upbringing in Seattle’s South End neighborhood presented significant challenges, including exposure to violence, homelessness, and the incarceration of a parent. Despite these obstacles, he credited basketball with providing structure and opportunity. His early mentors, including NBA veteran Jamal Crawford, played meaningful roles in his development.
Personal Life
Dejounte Dashaun Murray is a father of two daughters. His older daughter, Riley, was born in 2019, and his younger daughter, Icelynn, was born in 2023. Murray has been open about how fatherhood has shaped his perspective and motivation throughout his NBA career.
2025 Season Performance
Murray’s 2024–25 season with the New Orleans Pelicans showed encouraging signs before a major setback. In 31 starts, he averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists, establishing himself as the team’s primary ball-handler and a vocal leader on the court. His playmaking helped stabilize the Pelicans’ offense during the early months of the campaign.
On January 31, 2025, Murray tore his right Achilles tendon in a non-contact play against the Boston Celtics, abruptly ending his season. The injury forced the Pelicans to adjust their backcourt rotation for the remainder of the year and tested the franchise’s depth at point guard. Murray’s absence was a significant blow given his early-season production.
Looking ahead, Murray is expected to return to full strength in 2025–26 and rejoin the Pelicans’ core alongside the team’s other key contributors. His recovery timeline and on-court leadership will be central storylines as New Orleans aims to reassert itself in the Western Conference playoff picture. If his prior trajectory holds, Murray’s combination of defense, rebounding, and playmaking should once again make him one of the most impactful two-way guards in the league.
