“I Could Have Gone Away to Juvenile Lifetime”: San Antonio Spurs Guard Opens up On His Tough Childhood Days

Allen Iverson and Caron Butler have talked about their journey from the streets to making it to the NBA. Iverson got arrested once for a street brawl and had to complete his senior year of high school at a school for “at-risk” students. San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray has also had a similar story.

During an interview with Chris Haynes from Yahoo Sports, Murray talked about his tough childhood. “My mom was in and out penitentiary when I was a baby. At four-five years old I knew every drug word because I was exposed to it.” Murray also revealed that he spent time at juvenile jail. “It’s crazy, at 11 years old I caught my first case. I could have (gone) away to juvenile lifetime.”

A potential franchise player for the San Antonio Spurs?

Murray also mentioned that he was grateful to Jamal Crawford for continuously looking out for him. “I was a freshman shining. Jamal was like, you can make it to the league. I salute him to this day. He didn’t have to take that role. He took that role to make sure he helped Dejounte Murray.”

Murray said that after juvenile, he felt changed. And Crawford was there to guide him. “I happened to be in juvenile for like a month. When I came home, I really wanted to change my life. And Jamal kept pushing the issue. He kept texting me. He probably had a game in Phoenix tomorrow, but he’s worried about me. ‘Get out of the streets, go to school, go get into the gym every day.’ I’ve never looked back since I got out of juvenile in my sophomore year.”

After being drafted 29th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, he has proven to be a steal for the Spurs. An elite defender, his playstyle perfectly fits Popovich’s defense system. Murray made history in 2018 when he became the youngest player to feature in an All-Defense team. After Tony Parker left in 2018, Murray has taken over that starting spot for the Spurs.

Despite missing the entire 2018-19 season, Murray came back strong and averaged career-high numbers. He averaged 10.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. If he can keep improving, especially in the playmaking department, the Spurs have a player that can potentially be a household name for years to come. Along with Lonnie Walker, San Antonio boasts one of the most exciting and promising backcourts.