Grayson Murphy Bio
Grayson Murphy is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Telekom Baskets Bonn of the Basketball Bundesliga. A point guard listed at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and 190 lb (86 kg), he began his professional career in Germany after going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft. He previously played college basketball for the Belmont Bruins, where he became one of the most decorated players in program history. After stints in the German ProA and the NBA G League, he returned to the top German league with Bonn, where he continues to build his professional profile.
Early Life and Background
Grayson Murphy was born on February 4, 1999, in Franklin, Tennessee, in the United States. He grew up in nearby Thompson’s Station, where he attended Independence High School and developed into one of the most productive players in the school’s history. He comes from an athletic family, with his father, Scott Murphy, having played college basketball at Austin Peay. His older brother, Patrick, played basketball at Martin Methodist College and Western Kentucky, and his cousin, Luke, has competed in college baseball as a pitcher for Vanderbilt.
Murphy starred for the Independence High School program throughout his prep career. As a junior, he averaged 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.8 steals per game, and he was recognized as the Trophy House/Gateway Tire Player of the Year for Williamson County. He added District 11-AAA MVP honors and led his team to a district title, earning tournament MVP in the process. As a senior, he averaged 19.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game, and he departed as his school’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
Path to Basketball
Murphy’s path to the professional ranks began in earnest with his commitment to Belmont, where he chose the Bruins over offers from Austin Peay, Lipscomb and Troy. His high school résumé, including a 43-point, 12-assist, nine-rebound, nine-steal outing against McGavock High School in a Region 6-AAA win, made him one of the most sought-after prospects in the midstate Tennessee area. His family’s basketball background gave him an early understanding of the work required to compete at a high level.
After arriving at Belmont, he redshirted his first year after breaking his right foot in a preseason pickup game, limiting him to four games and a 4.5 points-per-game average. The following seasons, however, marked the start of a rapid rise. On February 28, 2019, he set the program’s single-game NCAA Division I record with 16 assists in a 112–67 win over UT Martin, finishing his freshman year with 9.6 points, 6.5 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game and a freshman Division I assists record of 214.
Grayson Murphy Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Murphy emerged as one of the most productive guards in the Ohio Valley Conference during his sophomore season. He averaged 9.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game, set program single-season records in steals (86) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.69), and was the only player nationally with at least 240 rebounds, 200 assists and 80 steals. On February 13, 2021, he recorded the first triple-double of Belmont’s NCAA era, posting 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 73–58 win over Morehead State, and later that month he tallied a career-high 24 points with 13 rebounds and seven assists in an overtime loss to the same opponent.
His junior season brought similar production, with averages of 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game, and he repeated as both First Team All-OVC and OVC Defensive Player of the Year. As a senior, he was again named to the First Team All-OVC, capping a college career in which he earned three consecutive First Team All-OVC selections (2020, 2021, 2022) and two OVC Defensive Player of the Year awards (2020, 2021).
German ProA Breakthrough (2022–2024)
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Murphy signed with Phoenix Hagen of the German ProA on August 18, 2022, beginning his professional career overseas. He spent one season with Hagen, adjusting to the pace and physicality of European professional basketball, before moving on to another ProA side the following summer.
On July 31, 2023, Murphy signed with the Dresden Titans, also of the ProA, where he continued to expand his role as a primary ball-handler and perimeter defender. Across his two seasons in Germany’s second tier, he built the kind of consistency and statistical production that would eventually attract attention from higher-level clubs on both sides of the Atlantic.
South Bay Lakers Era (2024–2025)
Following the 2023–2024 campaign, Murphy joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2024 NBA Summer League, looking to break into the NBA ecosystem. He signed with the Lakers on October 18, 2024, but was waived the following day, and on October 26 he was assigned to the South Bay Lakers, the organization’s G League affiliate, for the 2024–2025 season.
With South Bay, Murphy worked to translate his college and European résumé into a more up-tempo, NBA-style game. The G League stint offered him exposure to NBA coaching and a faster pace, helping him further develop his pick-and-roll reads and perimeter defense ahead of his next move.
Telekom Baskets Bonn Era (2025–Present)
On June 27, 2025, Murphy signed with Telekom Baskets Bonn of the Basketball Bundesliga, returning to Germany and stepping up to the country’s top flight. The move represented a significant step forward in his career, pairing him with a competitive Bundesliga roster and a chance to play in European club competitions. As the team’s point guard wearing No. 7, he is expected to serve as a primary facilitator and on-ball defender.
Driving Style and Strengths
Murphy’s game is built on tempo, vision and defensive pressure. He is a pass-first point guard with the ability to set up teammates in the half court and push the ball in transition, and his career-long steal totals and OVC Defensive Player of the Year awards reflect his disruptive presence on the perimeter. He complements that with efficient distribution, evidenced by his program-record assist-to-turnover ratio at Belmont.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of his career are his 16-assist performance against UT Martin in 2019, his first Belmont NCAA-era triple-double in 2021, and his back-to-back OVC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020 and 2021. His 2025 signing with Telekom Baskets Bonn also marked a return to Germany’s top professional league.
Grayson Murphy Career Wins
Grayson Murphy’s professional trophy case is still developing, but his college résumé stands as the centerpiece of his résumé. Across his Belmont career, he earned three First Team All-OVC selections (2020, 2021 and 2022) and two OVC Defensive Player of the Year awards (2020 and 2021), making him one of the most decorated players in program history.
Ohio Valley Conference Highlights
Murphy’s three straight First Team All-OVC honors (2020, 2021 and 2022) and two OVC Defensive Player of the Year awards (2020, 2021) are the foundation of his award list. He set the Belmont Division I single-game assists record with 16 against UT Martin in 2019, and he recorded the program’s first NCAA-era triple-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists versus Morehead State in February 2021.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Murphy was named District 11-AAA MVP and the Williamson County Trophy House/Gateway Tire Player of the Year, and he led Independence to a district title with tournament MVP honors. He left Independence as the school’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals, underscoring his four-year dominance.
Grayson Murphy Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in the Murphy family. His father, Scott Murphy, played college basketball at Austin Peay, and his older brother, Patrick, played at both Martin Methodist College and Western Kentucky. His cousin, Luke, plays college baseball as a pitcher at Vanderbilt, giving the family a presence across multiple college sports.
Personal Life
Murphy grew up in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, in the greater Franklin area, where he attended Independence High School before going on to Belmont. Publicly available details about his current residence, marital status or children have not been confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Murphy’s 2025 storyline centers on his transition back to Germany’s top professional league with Telekom Baskets Bonn, where he joined on June 27, 2025, to take over as a starting point guard. The move followed a developmental 2024–2025 campaign with the South Bay Lakers in the NBA G League, where he sharpened his game against NBA-affiliated competition. With Bonn, he is expected to be a primary playmaker and perimeter defender in a league known for its pace and shooting.
Early in his Bonn tenure, his role is built around setting up teammates, pushing tempo and providing on-ball defensive pressure, the same strengths that defined his three First Team All-OVC selections. The Bundesliga schedule will give him a long runway to settle into a leadership role and to translate his G League experience into consistent production at a higher European level.
Looking ahead, Murphy’s outlook in Bonn is tied to his ability to manage a deep rotation, limit turnovers and continue defending at a high level. If his form mirrors the efficiency and consistency he showed at Belmont, where he set program records in steals and assist-to-turnover ratio, he is well positioned to become a central figure for Bonn in both league play and any potential European cup campaigns.
