Dejounte Murray stressed Friday he’s focused on being a “great teammate” while adjusting to his new role as a Spurs reserve.
“I am just here to play basketball, man,” Murray said at shootaround. “Try to be a great teammate. And on the basketball end, play as great as I can on both ends of the floor and just compete.”
Searching for a way to ignite his struggling starting unit, coach Gregg Popovich replaced Murray at point guard with Derrick White four games ago. White started at point guard most of last season after Murray suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.
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Speaking to reporters for the first time since the move was made, Murray was asked if Popovich spoke to him before making the switch.
“It just happened,” Murray said. “I am not worrying about that. Like I said, I am just down here to be a great teammate and try to compete on both ends of the floor and try my hardest to continue to develop.”
Popovich said before Friday’s game Murray has handled the change “fine.” But Patty Mills, who leads the bench in scoring with a per-game average of 11.4, said he thinks it’s been “tough” on the 23 year old.
“He’s had a lot of pressure,” Mills said, “and for him to have the year he had last year added pressure on to it. It’s tough for (any) young person. But it’s one of those things you got to grind it out, just like he did last year (when he was rehabbing his knee) and find ways to stay positive and maybe (have) little goals that can help him get through it.
“But, overall, his mindset still needs to be that starting point guard mentality, where he is being aggressive and making plays. But all of that will come. It’s definitely a long year.”
Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he didn’t think coming off the bench would result in Murray losing any confidence.
“His confidence is going to go up and down regardless,” Rivers said. “It’s just being young and playing in the NBA. He’s going to have some stretches where he is very confident because he is playing well and then you have stretches where you are not. Every night, unfortunately for him and every guard, you have a tough matchup. Playing in the NBA at the guard spot right now wouldn’t be a lot of fun, or fun (period).”
DeRozan helps students with mental health issues
Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan spoke with a group of high school students before Wednesday’s game about how he’s dealt with depression.
“Being in that position and dealing with certain factors that cause stress at a young age, (it’s tough),” DeRozan said. “I told them, ‘Don’t let that get you down. Always find things that uplift you. It’s OK to talk about it, talk about your feelings, especially with people you care about.’”
The students were brought to the AT&T Center by Communities in Schools of San Antonio, which connects children and their families to basic and critical educational and community-based resources tailored to each student’s specific needs.
Rivers glad to see Duncan coaching
Rivers applauded Tim Duncan’s decision to re-join the Spurs as an assistant coach, saying superstar players such as “The Big Fundamental” are well-suited for the profession.
“They literally have more experience than any player or coach can ever have,” Rivers said. “Tim, when you think about it, has seen every defense possible that you can play on one person and one team. He has been on championship teams. He’s seen different groups coming in and out. He has the experience.”
Rivers also noted that another all-time great, former New York Knicks center, Patrick Ewing is head coach at Georgetown.
“I love when the stars stay in the game, especially in that way,” Rivers said. “They actually have more to give.”
Clippers view movie with ‘powerful’ message
The Clippers on Thursday enjoyed a private viewing of the legal drama “Just Mercy,” which stars Jamie Foxx and recounts social justice activist and attorney Bryan Stevenson’s fight to free Walter McMillian, a wrongfully convicted man on death row.
“It was powerful,” Rivers said. “You are amazed you are still in this country and stuff like that happened.”
Rivers hopes the movie will help his players get more involved in social justice issues.
“I always tell them there is a big old world out there, we need to get involved in it,” Rivers said. “With no politics involved, we need to get involved in it and make it a better place.”
Milestone home game for Spurs
Friday’s game was the 700th played in the AT&T Center.
The Spurs entered the contest with 564 wins in the building, the most home wins of any team in the NBA since the building opened in 2002. Dallas ranks second with 479.
The Spurs’ .807 home winning percentage (564-135) is the best in the league in that period.
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