Atlanta Hawks star puts old team on blast: ‘problem bigger than basketball’
The Atlanta Hawks and newly acquired star guard Dejounte Murray are still enjoying their honeymoon phase. But it is becoming increasingly clear that Murray was not enjoying such positivity at his last stop with the San Antonio Spurs before being traded. Murray was not shy about letting it be known on social media in a since-deleted response to an Instagram user.
Before earning his first All-Star nod while also leading the league in steals per game last season, Murray was an All-Defensive selection in 2018 and the 29th-overall pick in 2016 out of the University of Washington.
San Antonio’s decision to tank – likely for top 2023 prospect, big man Victor Wembanayama – was said to be a driving force behind the decision to move Murray.
At the time, Murray sounded as if he was leaving on amicable terms.
Atlanta Hawks G Dejounte Murray blasts Spurs culture in deleted Instagram comments
An Instagram user went back to the farewell post from Murray thanking the Spurs and the city of San Antonio. Murray’s first three seasons all resulted in playoff berths. But, after a Western Conference Finals berth in his rookie season, Murray was unable to get out of the first round in the two subsequent postseasons.
The fan chided Murray.
“BYE fly little birdy….Good luck getting to the 2nd round at least we got the picks and we’re building around Keldon.”
Keldon Johnson signed an extension with San Antonio this offseason worth up to $80 million over four years.
To the fan’s point, Johnson has had a more productive start to his career than Murray. But the Hawks new star had a response at the ready and it might have been more than the fan bargained for as Murray might have pulled back the curtain on the Spurs.
“The Way That System Set Up You Gone Be Losing For The Next 15 Yrs!!! Problem Bigger Than Basketball”.
In response to another fan who asked if the deleted sentiments were truly how he felt about the fans, Murray clarified but did not absolve the organization.
“You have no clue how deeply I love the fans and will do whatever for the real fans … Me saying what I said had nothing to do with the fans! All that inside s*** fake though! (For real, for real),”
Spurs culture has been a standard for years in the NBA – almost like “The Patriot Way” in the NFL – with head coach Gregg Popovich at the helm. Pop’s shortness with media has not been the relationship players had said they share with him.
At his introductory press conference, Murray had said that the organization just wanted to help him reach his best self
Dejounte introduced in Atlanta today. Says leaving SA was a mutual decision -- was asked if he requested a trade. Goes on to praise the organization.
— Chase Shannon (@chase_shannon) July 1, 2022
"They want to see me win & just the best for Dejounte so I thanked them for that.. that's what makes our relationship special." pic.twitter.com/lAGr9z5vTB
He also called the organization “first class” while saying that their handling of his situation was something “you gotta respect” to Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes during an interview at Las Vegas Summer League.
Perhaps those previous comments came back to Murray in a moment of clarity leading to him deleting the IG responses. But it is also possible that his digs were the clarity.
The exchange got some attention from Spurs Twitter and the team’s blogosphere too.
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At any rate, Murray’s better judgment appears to have won out as the guard’s focus needs to be on helping his new team get back to the heights they briefly experienced. It will be a “prove-it” campaign for both sides.