Dejounte Murray - Crafty Creator (Violent Crosses)

Dejounte Murray. 2022 NBA All-Star. 2018 NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Through 55 games, Murray is averaging 19.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.3 assists (currently tied for 3rd with Trae Young and behind only Chris Paul and James Harden), 2.0 steals (leads the league) per game - all career highs on an also career high usage (30.9% per CTG).

Dejounte Murray’s defensive prowess is well-documented but this video is meant to showcase just a little bit of what he does on the other side of the ball. Dejounte has developed a rather vicious crossover - the violence and velocity with which he snaps that ball to get into his midrange jumper is just gorgeous. Murray managing to master the midrange will be its own video but there’s a whole lot of that in this one too. The footwork is as fundamental as one can expect to see in San Antonio. The spin + fake spin and/or reverse pivot counters are pristine. The floater is pretty phenomenal. Add in the fact that the Rainier Beach High School alum seems to be growing as the closer for the Spurs? Well, you've got the makings of a pretty magnificent player.
Tempting as it may be to throw out Tony Parker comps because of the offensive load carried by a Gregg Popovich point guard, there’s lots of time for Dejounte to grow into a role or carve out his own.

I'm not saying he got it from DeMar DeRozan but getting to be with DeMar for 3 years might have accelerated the growth of that middy magic Murray has...but then again, his teammates in his very first year in the league were Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Pau Gasol.

Per Cleaning the Glass, of the 983 shots DJ has attempted, 51% of them have come from midrange (490 FGA + 10 fouls drawn), 21% of them have come from deep (209 FGA), and 28% of them have come at the rim (232 FGA + 42 fouls drawn).
His conversion rate, however, showed he was best at the rim - 64%, decent from the midrange - 43%, and while he did hit 38% of his corner 3s, he’s still only at 32% from 3 overall. He’s also only attempted 2.9 free throws per game.

As of early February, he became the first player in franchise history to put up a 25+ point, 10+rebound, and 15+assist game.

All clips from the first 55 games of the 2021/22 season. I was originally planning on coming out with this before All-Star but life got in the way . . . and sometimes when I don't get it out in time, I'm discouraged against putting it out.
TLDR: I did a lot of work early, got busy in the middle, and now it is is a little late, but here it is!

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