Dejounte Murray should be an All-Star selection this season

Dejounte Murray has flown under the radar this season and is quietly making a claim for an All-Star nod

The San Antonio Spurs have flown under the radar since the departure of Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors back in July 2018. While the team had DeMar DeRozan leading it, he soon departed to the Chicago Bulls this past offseason.

This left the Spurs in need of a leader, with the task falling on the shoulders of young point guard Dejounte Murray. And boy, has he delivered and become the man for the Spurs. While the team may not make the playoffs this season, Murray has helped carry the team to a number of wins and has been the unquestionable leader of this young outfit.

While boasting a record of 14-19, the Spurs have been a competitive team against a number of contenders this year. They have had scalps against the Jazz, Warriors, Lakers, and Bucks and have been in games right down to the wire. A big reason for this is the leadership from Murray, who has had a career year and a great stat line.

Murray is averaging career numbers in points, rebounds, assists, and steals this season, averaging a near triple-double on the year (17.8 points, 8.8 assists, and 8.4 rebounds per game). To put into comparison, he is averaging better numbers than Russell Westbrook and James Harden in the assists and rebounds categories, while only being 4-5 points per game behind them.

Murray is tied for the most triple-doubles this season, recording six alongside Westbrook and last year’s MVP Nikola Jokic. He is also top ten in double-doubles for the year on 15, with James Harden being the only guard above him on that list.

His averages of two steals per game and his excellent defensive prowess make him one of the best defenders in the guard position, with Murray already making history as one of the youngest players to make an All-Defensive team in the past.

Without Murray, the Spurs would be in a much worse position and his All-Star case may strengthen with the guard set to miss time due to being placed in Health and Safety Protocols. His thumbprint is all over the Spurs’ offensive and defensive games and he has been crucial to a number of wins this season.

Coach Gregg Popovich has stated in the past that he wishes Murray could play 48 minutes per game for the team and has recently said that the loss of Murray to the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols is an important one.

While he is unlikely to receive the fan votes, NBA followers should be rooting for players such as Murray to make it to the big game, as he has shown time and time again that he is one of the game’s best players.