The San Antonio Spurs’ promising point guard Dejounte Murray just got one hell of a compliment from Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers. Ahead of their respective teams' match-up at the AT&T Center on Thursday, Rivers was asked what he thinks of San Antonio’s versatile playmaker.
“Westbrook-ish because of his speed. Rondo…probably not the passing of Rondo yet. But he is long and he is rangy and he has great burst,” the NBA champion coach said, per Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News.
Another byproduct of the Spurs’ proficiency in finding gems late in the draft, Murray was picked 29th overall in 2016 after an impressive one-and-done year at the University of Washington.
He only played in eight games in his rookie campaign, but blossomed in his second year under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich, averaging 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 81 games.
The 23-year-old was expected to make an even bigger stride in the 2018-19 NBA season and was poised to become the team’s point guard of the future. However, he suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in a preseason game against the Houston Rockets and missed the entire season.
Now back to 100 percent, Murray had to shake off some cobwebs in the Spurs’ opening night victory where he only seven points on 3-of-8 shooting in the team’s win over the Portland Trailblazers.
He was back to form in the Spurs’ following games against the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks, scoring 19 and 18 points, respectively. Murray currently averages all-around numbers of 14.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6 assists in his first three games back from injury.
San Antonio (3-0) remains the only undefeated in the West.
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