Dejounte Murray’s 2-way prowess shines for San Antonio Spurs

Flashy offense

Part of Dejounte Murray’s appeal is inherent in a young point guard. He’s fast. His speed isn’t deceptive; anyone who sees him go down the court in transition will know that. But his biggest asset is what he brings with his speed: the ability to keep a defender on their toes.

When Murray brings the ball up, he has had a few options this year: defer to guys like DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge, who can create their own shots, or find guys like Bryn Forbes or Patty Mills who can knock down 3s and the final option is to make the defender look silly.

Murray does this so well, he can make players look like their feet are stuck in cement.

Here, Murray is walking up the court slowly at this point, until he realizes how far out his guy is, and then he hits a deadly crossover and beats his man to the basket in a few steps, forcing the and-one.

He’s also a savvy passer. Murray gets the ball down low, but senses LeBron James behind him, so he quickly defers and finds the dangerously wide-open Bryn Forbes, who cashes a three.

Murray’s offensive skills are undeniable. Seeing him start to get more minutes is going to be a treat, especially with his contrast in energy from some of his teammates. If he can start getting to the line more, Murray is going to be one of the biggest problems in the NBA.