Dejounte Murray on his time with The Spurs

[threethehardway]

I don't understand why so many folks want to seize on any opportunity they can to interpret a story to mean that the Spurs organization is evil and terrible.

These folks were all over the Kawhi thing and seemed legitimately thrilled at the prospect that Pop and the front office were being exposed as wicked; watching them fall silent as the truth about Kawhi and his camp emerged was very satisfying.

But here they are again, ready to trash the whole system over some unsubstantiated comments a traded player with his own obvious issues made to a former player with a known grudge against the Spurs that you can see from space.

It's weird. I can't begrudge anyone with issues against Parker over the terrible thing he did to his teammate, but it's the eagerness with which some people want to disparage everyone in the organization, and the culture within, that mystifies me-- especially since the fruit of that culture speaks for itself and since nobody with firsthand experience who doesn't have an obvious personal motive for castigating it has ever done so (much the opposite, in fact).

It's simple.

The Spurs are fake. The whole, "They play the right way, they are so unselfish."

It's all fake.

The truth about the Spurs is that Pop is the star of the show and no one can be bigger than Pop.

They are basically the Patriots of the NBA and the whole thing doesn't work without Duncan. Nobody could say anything when Duncan was there because he went along with the BS, but as soon as Duncan leaves, we can all see the warts.

Now that athletes are unshackled and able to talk to other athletes in the media, openly about their experience, they don't have to bow down to franchises and coaches.

[mixerball]

what, lol, is he really saying that? parker wasnt even at the same club but this fool thinks tony somehow owned him mentorship. wtf are these players eating. can you get more entitled and arrogant than this.

[mixerball]

I don't understand why so many folks want to seize on any opportunity they can to interpret a story to mean that the Spurs organization is evil and terrible.

These folks were all over the Kawhi thing and seemed legitimately thrilled at the prospect that Pop and the front office were being exposed as wicked; watching them fall silent as the truth about Kawhi and his camp emerged was very satisfying.

But here they are again, ready to trash the whole system over some unsubstantiated comments a traded player with his own obvious issues made to a former player with a known grudge against the Spurs that you can see from space.

It's weird. I can't begrudge anyone with issues against Parker over the terrible thing he did to his teammate, but it's the eagerness with which some people want to disparage everyone in the organization, and the culture within, that mystifies me-- especially since the fruit of that culture speaks for itself and since nobody with firsthand experience who doesn't have an obvious personal motive for castigating it has ever done so (much the opposite, in fact).

It's simple.

The Spurs are fake. The whole, "They play the right way, they are so unselfish."

It's all fake.

The truth about the Spurs is that Pop is the star of the show and no one can be bigger than Pop.

They are basically the Patriots of the NBA and the whole thing doesn't work without Duncan. Nobody could say anything when Duncan was there because he went along with the BS, but as soon as Duncan leaves, we can all see the warts.

Now that athletes are unshackled and able to talk to other athletes in the media, openly about their experience, they don't have to bow down to franchises and coaches.

fake? lol not even remotely but some bitter and entitled players wants you to believe so. and you believe those players. your choice.

the "truth" that you "revealed" has always been there. we always knew pop was the man. everybody knows that. its not a reveal or something new. so, your narrative is kinda shaky.

[-Sammy-]

I don't understand why so many folks want to seize on any opportunity they can to interpret a story to mean that the Spurs organization is evil and terrible.

These folks were all over the Kawhi thing and seemed legitimately thrilled at the prospect that Pop and the front office were being exposed as wicked; watching them fall silent as the truth about Kawhi and his camp emerged was very satisfying.

But here they are again, ready to trash the whole system over some unsubstantiated comments a traded player with his own obvious issues made to a former player with a known grudge against the Spurs that you can see from space.

It's weird. I can't begrudge anyone with issues against Parker over the terrible thing he did to his teammate, but it's the eagerness with which some people want to disparage everyone in the organization, and the culture within, that mystifies me-- especially since the fruit of that culture speaks for itself and since nobody with firsthand experience who doesn't have an obvious personal motive for castigating it has ever done so (much the opposite, in fact).

It's simple.

The Spurs are fake. The whole, "They play the right way, they are so unselfish."

It's all fake.

How can that ethos be called fake when it produced so much real success? The 2014 Spurs are celebrated for being one of the great 'unselfish/right-way' champions of all time; how was that faked? Were they only pretending to play the right way? Were they all secretly seething internally, wishing they didn't make extra passes and trust teammates?

How does a 'fake' culture win a real championship, and why aren't those players all coming forward now with revelations of the fakery?

The truth about the Spurs is that Pop is the star of the show and no one can be bigger than Pop.

What evidence do you have for this?

They are basically the Patriots of the NBA and the whole thing doesn't work without Duncan. Nobody could say anything when Duncan was there because he went along with the BS, but as soon as Duncan leaves, we can all see the warts.

Sports teams need good players to be good; pointing to Duncan as a key factor in the Spurs' success is no more revelatory than pointing to Brady as a factor in NE's. But there's a difference between a team being good on the athletic field and being healthy culturally. All teams that are built around long-rooted talent go through rebuilds when those players retire or leave; the fact that the Spurs are rebuilding isn't evidence that the culture must be corrupt; it's just the natural order.

Now that athletes are unshackled and able to talk to other athletes in the media, openly about their experience, they don't have to bow down to franchises and coaches.

Where are all the critics and whistleblowers, then? So far we have a player with known issues complaining to a guy with a grudge against the team they're talking about, and a few years ago, we had grumblings from a camp headed by the uncle of the player who tried to force a trade against a now-known backdrop of cloak-and-dagger duplicity and outright dishonesty (supposedly over an injury that we now know was properly handled by the Spurs all along).

What else?

[Deivork]

Yeah a change of thread title would be fitting. As others have pointed out, it's misleading.

[meekrab]

Didn't Tony leave because Charlotte offered him a better deal?

Pretty much. Mitch Cupcake had just taken over the team and wanted a veteran in the locker room.

[Chinook]

Tony mentored George Hill, and the two were close after Hill left to Indy. It's okay to not like a co-worker, but that's not the same thing as a co-worker legit being bad. A lot of players had at least good working relationships with him. That a guy who's been run out of every team he's been on and a guy who spits on other players had an issue with him is not damning.

[stillgotgame]

Sour grapes about the Spurs from a Heat fan crack me up. The Spurs way owned you. The Heat’s big three were completely outplayed by Boris Diaw, an old Tim Duncan and a kid that averaged 13 points a game during the regular season. Lebron was so embarrassed he blamed it on losing Mike Miller and ran out of town.
Team ball positively owned hero ball. Pop brought the culture but the players did it. Any other take is just whining.

[jokeboy86]

Where are all the critics and whistleblowers, then? So far we have a player with known issues complaining to a guy with a grudge against the team they're talking about, and a few years ago, we had grumblings from a camp headed by the uncle of the player who tried to force a trade against a now-known backdrop of cloak-and-dagger duplicity and outright dishonesty (supposedly over an injury that we now know was properly handled by the Spurs all along).

What else?

Yeah what is Stephen Jackson's deal? He won a ring with the Spurs so I really don't understand some of this animosity he seems to have towards the Spurs. It's almost like some of these ex-athletes with platforms are mad at or dislike the mainstream sports media/journalists so they rail against athletes/organizations/coaches that they think the media likes even though their beef is with the media. Like the countless amount of ex-players who dismiss Giannis when they get a chance.

[threethehardway]

fake? lol not even remotely but some bitter and entitled players wants you to believe so. and you believe those players. your choice.

the "truth" that you "revealed" has always been there. we always knew pop was the man. everybody knows that. its not a reveal or something new. so, your narrative is kinda shaky.

Lol, entitled players.

How about entitled coaches? What about entitled franchises? People come to watch the players, nobody comes to a basketball game to watch the freaking coach.

What do you mean believe?

Pop has been in the media, having op-eds about his methods and his demeanor his entire career.

Lol the Spurs might as well be called the San Antonio Popoviches. The Spurs don't exist.

All Dejounte said was Tony Parker didn't like being replaced. The Spurs did a lot for him, even though they played those stupid ass mind games and here comes the usual suspects, whining about players as usual because they decide to talk about their experience. God forbid anybody says anything critical about coach or a franchise, they gotta be crazy or a knucklehead or whatever.

Never change.

[slick_watts]

i don't see anything wrong with what murray said, or anything wrong with what tony parker did.

[Dirk]

Yeah a change of thread title would be fitting. As others have pointed out, it's misleading.

What title do you suggest?

[nikster]

fake? lol not even remotely but some bitter and entitled players wants you to believe so. and you believe those players. your choice.

the "truth" that you "revealed" has always been there. we always knew pop was the man. everybody knows that. its not a reveal or something new. so, your narrative is kinda shaky.

Lol, entitled players.

How about entitled coaches? What about entitled franchises? People come to watch the players, nobody comes to a basketball game to watch the freaking coach.

What do you mean believe?

Pop has been in the media, having op-eds about his methods and his demeanor his entire career.

Lol the Spurs might as well be called the San Antonio Popoviches. The Spurs don't exist.

All Dejounte said was Tony Parker didn't like being replaced. The Spurs did a lot for him, even though they played those stupid ass mind games and here comes the usual suspects, whining about players as usual because they decide to talk about their experience. God forbid anybody says anything critical about coach or a franchise, they gotta be crazy or a knucklehead or whatever.

Never change.

So you think pop is entitled?

What "stupid ass mind games" did the spurs try with Dejounte?

[Bornstellar]

I don't understand why so many folks want to seize on any opportunity they can to interpret a story to mean that the Spurs organization is evil and terrible.

These folks were all over the Kawhi thing and seemed legitimately thrilled at the prospect that Pop and the front office were being exposed as wicked; watching them fall silent as the truth about Kawhi and his camp emerged was very satisfying.

But here they are again, ready to trash the whole system over some unsubstantiated comments a traded player with his own obvious issues made to a former player with a known grudge against the Spurs that you can see from space.

It's weird. I can't begrudge anyone with issues against Parker over the terrible thing he did to his teammate, but it's the eagerness with which some people want to disparage everyone in the organization, and the culture within, that mystifies me-- especially since the fruit of that culture speaks for itself and since nobody with firsthand experience who doesn't have an obvious personal motive for castigating it has ever done so (much the opposite, in fact).

It's simple.

The Spurs are fake. The whole, "They play the right way, they are so unselfish."

It's all fake.

The truth about the Spurs is that Pop is the star of the show and no one can be bigger than Pop.

They are basically the Patriots of the NBA and the whole thing doesn't work without Duncan. Nobody could say anything when Duncan was there because he went along with the BS, but as soon as Duncan leaves, we can all see the warts.

Now that athletes are unshackled and able to talk to other athletes in the media, openly about their experience, they don't have to bow down to franchises and coaches.

Not fake at all. You sound incredibly jealous. You also have zero clue wtf you're talking about

I bet I can guess why you hate Pop though, and I bet it has zero to do with basketball

[threethehardway]

So you think pop is entitled?

What "stupid ass mind games" did the spurs try with Dejounte?

Everyone that has any ounce of confidence in their abilities and succeeds feels entitled.

There's nothing wrong with feeling entitled. Only losers don't feel entitled and deserving of opportunities to prove their worth to themselves and the world.

Here's what Dejounte said

Watch on YouTube

[jokeboy86]

fake? lol not even remotely but some bitter and entitled players wants you to believe so. and you believe those players. your choice.

the "truth" that you "revealed" has always been there. we always knew pop was the man. everybody knows that. its not a reveal or something new. so, your narrative is kinda shaky.

Lol, entitled players.

How about entitled coaches? What about entitled franchises? People come to watch the players, nobody comes to a basketball game to watch the freaking coach.

What do you mean believe?

Pop has been in the media, having op-eds about his methods and his demeanor his entire career.

Lol the Spurs might as well be called the San Antonio Popoviches. The Spurs don't exist.

All Dejounte said was Tony Parker didn't like being replaced. The Spurs did a lot for him, even though they played those stupid ass mind games and here comes the usual suspects, whining about players as usual because they decide to talk about their experience. God forbid anybody says anything critical about coach or a franchise, they gotta be crazy or a knucklehead or whatever.

Never change.

I just want to know what age were you when Popovich popped your balloon or harmed your puppy cause obviously something about him or the Spurs has really triggered you.

[threethehardway]

I just want to know what age were you when Popovich popped your balloon or harmed your puppy cause obviously something about him or the Spurs has really triggered you.

Lol I wanna know when Dejounte Murray took your girlfriend on a date.

[jokeboy86]

I just want to know what age were you when Popovich popped your balloon or harmed your puppy cause obviously something about him or the Spurs has really triggered you.

Lol I wanna know when Dejounte Murray took your girlfriend on a date.

Just yesterday actually I see Murray all the time. You didn't know? We like to have fun on internet forums too.

[Dan Z]

I don't understand why so many folks want to seize on any opportunity they can to interpret a story to mean that the Spurs organization is evil and terrible.

These folks were all over the Kawhi thing and seemed legitimately thrilled at the prospect that Pop and the front office were being exposed as wicked; watching them fall silent as the truth about Kawhi and his camp emerged was very satisfying.

But here they are again, ready to trash the whole system over some unsubstantiated comments a traded player with his own obvious issues made to a former player with a known grudge against the Spurs that you can see from space.

It's weird. I can't begrudge anyone with issues against Parker over the terrible thing he did to his teammate, but it's the eagerness with which some people want to disparage everyone in the organization, and the culture within, that mystifies me-- especially since the fruit of that culture speaks for itself and since nobody with firsthand experience who doesn't have an obvious personal motive for castigating it has ever done so (much the opposite, in fact).

It's simple.

The Spurs are fake. The whole, "They play the right way, they are so unselfish."

It's all fake.

The truth about the Spurs is that Pop is the star of the show and no one can be bigger than Pop.

They are basically the Patriots of the NBA and the whole thing doesn't work without Duncan. Nobody could say anything when Duncan was there because he went along with the BS, but as soon as Duncan leaves, we can all see the warts.

Now that athletes are unshackled and able to talk to other athletes in the media, openly about their experience, they don't have to bow down to franchises and coaches.

The Spurs have had a hard time being successful after an all-time great retires? Wow...that's surprising!

[SK21209]

I don't understand why so many folks want to seize on any opportunity they can to interpret a story to mean that the Spurs organization is evil and terrible.

These folks were all over the Kawhi thing and seemed legitimately thrilled at the prospect that Pop and the front office were being exposed as wicked; watching them fall silent as the truth about Kawhi and his camp emerged was very satisfying.

But here they are again, ready to trash the whole system over some unsubstantiated comments a traded player with his own obvious issues made to a former player with a known grudge against the Spurs that you can see from space.

It's weird. I can't begrudge anyone with issues against Parker over the terrible thing he did to his teammate, but it's the eagerness with which some people want to disparage everyone in the organization, and the culture within, that mystifies me-- especially since the fruit of that culture speaks for itself and since nobody with firsthand experience who doesn't have an obvious personal motive for castigating it has ever done so (much the opposite, in fact).

It's simple.

The Spurs are fake. The whole, "They play the right way, they are so unselfish."

It's all fake.

The truth about the Spurs is that Pop is the star of the show and no one can be bigger than Pop.

They are basically the Patriots of the NBA and the whole thing doesn't work without Duncan. Nobody could say anything when Duncan was there because he went along with the BS, but as soon as Duncan leaves, we can all see the warts.

Now that athletes are unshackled and able to talk to other athletes in the media, openly about their experience, they don't have to bow down to franchises and coaches.

The Spurs have had a hard time being successful after an all-time great retires? Wow...that's surprising!

The crazy thing is, they were poised to keep being successful even after Duncan retired. In 2016-2017 they were 61-21 with a +7.6 net rating. In 2017-2018 they were 47-35 with the 8th best net rating in the league despite Kawhi only playing 9 games. Losing Duncan and Kawhi in pretty quick succession was a death blow, if not for Kawhi's super weird fiasco to force his way out that 50+ wins per year streak is probably still going.