Dejounte Murray Bio
Dejounte Dashaun Murray is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A point guard listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 180 pounds, he has built his reputation as a dynamic playmaker and one of the league’s most disruptive perimeter defenders. Murray earned his first NBA All-Star selection in 2022 and led the league in steals that same season. He is also the San Antonio Spurs’ franchise leader in career triple-doubles.
Selected 29th overall in the 2016 NBA draft, Murray spent the first six seasons of his career with the Spurs before a 2022 trade sent him to the Atlanta Hawks. After two seasons in Atlanta, he was dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans in July 2024. Beyond his on-court work, Murray is a father of two and remains one of the most recognizable figures associated with Seattle’s storied basketball tradition.
Early Life and Background
Dejounte 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 parental incarceration. Prior to high school, Murray spent time in juvenile detention. These difficult surroundings shaped a difficult childhood that has been widely documented in profiles of his career.
Despite those circumstances, Murray found structure and opportunity through basketball. He attended Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, a program renowned as a basketball powerhouse that produced NBA talents such as Jamal Crawford, Doug Christie, Terrence Williams, Nate Robinson, and Kevin Porter Jr. Crawford, in particular, encouraged Murray to take the sport seriously. Under his guidance, Murray led the Vikings to three Class 3A state championships.
Murray’s high school résumé also featured individual honors. He was named Washington Mr. Basketball by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association and earned The Seattle Times State Player of the Year award. He was also recognized as a fourth-team Parade All-American in 2015, cementing his status as one of the top guard prospects in the country.
Path to Professional Basketball
Murray committed to the University of Washington, joining the Huskies for the 2015–16 college season. As a freshman, he started all 34 games and averaged 16.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.8 steals in 33.5 minutes per contest. His play earned him second-team All-Pac-12 honors as well as a spot on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.
After just one college season, Murray declared for the 2016 NBA draft on March 23, 2016, forgoing his remaining eligibility. The San Antonio Spurs selected him with the 29th overall pick in the first round, beginning his professional career.
Dejounte Murray Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Murray joined the 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, against the New Orleans Pelicans, recording two rebounds and one assist off the bench. During his rookie year, he also had multiple assignments with the Austin Spurs of the NBA Development League.
Murray’s role expanded quickly. On May 5, 2017, with Tony Parker sidelined, the Spurs started Murray at point guard in the playoffs against the Houston Rockets. He helped San Antonio eliminate Houston with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in the closeout game, becoming just the fourth rookie in Spurs history to record a point-rebound double-double in a postseason contest, joining David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Kawhi Leonard. By the end of the 2017–18 season, he earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors, becoming the then-youngest player in league history to receive that recognition.
San Antonio Spurs (2016–2022)
Murray’s tenure with the Spurs covered six seasons and represented his longest stint with a single franchise. He developed into a defensive stopper and a versatile playmaker, drawing early comparisons to Kawhi Leonard after reaching 500 points and 300 rebounds in his first 100 games with San Antonio.
The 2018–19 season, however, was cut short. On October 7, 2018, Murray suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in a preseason game against the Houston Rockets and missed the entire campaign. He returned to the court in 2019 and, in October of that year, agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract extension that could reach $70 million with incentives.
By 2021, Murray was producing consistently across the box score. On December 26, 2020, he recorded his first career triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Toronto Raptors. He followed that with a 27-point, 10-rebound, eight-steal performance against the Golden State Warriors in February 2021. On February 7, 2022, he was named an NBA All-Star as an injury replacement for Draymond Green. Murray finished that season as the NBA steals leader and second in Most Improved Player voting behind Ja Morant.
Atlanta Hawks (2022–2024)
On June 30, 2022, Murray was traded, along with Jock Landale, to the Atlanta Hawks for Danilo Gallinari and multiple future first-round picks. He made an immediate impact, posting 20 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, and five steals in his Hawks debut against the Houston Rockets. On November 5, 2022, he recorded his first triple-double with Atlanta.
Murray’s scoring climbed sharply during his Hawks tenure. He set a then-career-high of 39 points in November 2022, then surpassed it with 40 points against the Portland Trail Blazers in January 2023, and again with 41 points in a March 2023 win over the same opponent. In the 2023 playoffs, he joined Trae Young as the first Hawks teammates since 1966 to each record at least 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a postseason game.
The 2023–24 season brought more late-game heroics. Murray hit game-winning shots against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat in January 2024, and on March 28, 2024, he scored a career-high 44 points, including the game-winning mid-range jumper, in an overtime win over the Boston Celtics.
New Orleans Pelicans (2024–Present)
On July 6, 2024, Murray was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in a package that brought back Dyson Daniels, E.J. Liddell, Larry Nance Jr., Cody Zeller, and two future first-round draft picks. He quickly became a focal point of the New Orleans backcourt, making 31 starts during the 2024–25 NBA season and averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.
Murray’s season came to an abrupt end on January 31, 2025, when he tore his right Achilles tendon during the first quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics. The injury cut short what had been a productive first campaign in New Orleans.
Playing Style and Strengths
Murray is recognized as a two-way point guard whose game is built around perimeter defense, rebounding from the guard position, and steady playmaking. He led the NBA in steals in 2022 and earned All-Defensive recognition in 2018, reflecting his ability to disrupt opposing offenses. Offensively, he has expanded his scoring range throughout his career, developing into a reliable three-point shooter while continuing to attack the basket and create for teammates.
Notable Events and Milestones
Murray’s career highlights include his 2022 NBA All-Star selection, his 2018 All-Defensive Second Team nod, and his standing as the Spurs’ all-time leader in career triple-doubles. He also became just the fourth rookie in Spurs history to record a point-rebound double-double in a playoff game and the youngest player ever named to an NBA All-Defensive team at the time.
Dejounte Murray Career Achievements
Across his professional career, Murray has been selected to one NBA All-Star Game, named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and led the league in steals. He also earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors in college and was a Parade All-American and Washington Mr. Basketball in high school.
NBA Highlights
Murray’s most significant NBA moments include his 2022 All-Star selection, his league-leading steals total that same year, and multiple triple-doubles with both the Spurs and the Hawks. He surpassed franchise benchmarks in San Antonio, including the record for rebounds in a season by a point guard, and set career highs of 44 points during his time with Atlanta.
Other Performances
Murray was a Parade All-American and Washington Mr. Basketball in 2015, then a second-team All-Pac-12 pick as a freshman in 2016. He also represented the Spurs at NBA Summer League and saw Development League action with the Austin Spurs during his rookie season.
Dejounte Murray Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Murray is the father of two daughters, Riley (born in 2019) and Icelynn (born in 2023). He grew up in Seattle’s South End neighborhood, and his challenging upbringing has been a defining part of his public story, often cited as motivation for his professional career.
Personal Life
Murray has been open about his family and his Seattle roots. He remains connected to the city that shaped him, and his daughters are a frequent presence on his social media channels.
2025 Season Outlook
Murray’s 2024–25 campaign with the Pelicans showed clear promise before injury. In 31 starts, he averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists, establishing himself as a central figure in New Orleans’ backcourt alongside other young guards.
The torn right Achilles tendon he suffered on January 31, 2025, ended his season and will shape his recovery timeline heading into the following year. Rehabilitation from such an injury typically requires many months, and Murray’s return to full strength will be a key storyline for the Pelicans.
When healthy, Murray is expected to resume his role as a primary ball-handler and perimeter defender for New Orleans. His ability to return to his pre-injury form will influence both his individual outlook and the Pelicans’ broader team direction as they look to build around their young core.