WATCH: Dejounte Murray talks about his second-half performance against Minnesota
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> Dejounte, what got working for you in that third quarter as you went off and
00:13 had 19 points and kind of continue to take care of your team for that second half?
00:18 >> I mean, as an individual, I'm trying to be a lead on the defense and
00:23 first and foremost, I'm offensive and I'm trying to get my legs underneath myself.
00:28 And we had a long camp, a high intense camp, just trying to get my body right,
00:33 get back in the floor, long A2 game season.
00:36 But most importantly, just trying to take the challenge each and
00:40 every night I can to be that leader, that guy, to set the tone of defense.
00:45 And offense, like I tell the guys, we're gonna make or miss shots.
00:48 We can't control that.
00:49 We gotta move on and do the things we can't control.
00:51 >> Dejounte, you're one of the most selfless players in the NBA.
00:55 But when you get hot like that, is it one of those, all right, give me the ball or
01:00 just go with the flow, how does that work?
01:02 >> I mean, I don't know how to put it, that's just who I am.
01:07 I love the game, I love working.
01:10 I've always believed in the work gonna show no matter who you are,
01:12 whatever you do in life.
01:13 The work you put in, it's gonna show eventually.
01:18 So me, it ain't no give me the ball.
01:21 I believe in my teammates.
01:22 Even if I hit two, three baskets in a row, somebody's open,
01:24 I believe that guy should get the ball.
01:26 So that's just who I am as a man, as a basketball player.
01:29 >> You had a huge game on offense, but
01:32 pretty much shut down the Timberwolves in the second half.
01:34 How would you evaluate the defensive performance today?
01:37 >> I mean, it was great.
01:38 It was a testament to us as a team.
01:41 A little adversity hit.
01:42 It was hot in the first quarter, the first half.
01:45 Shot was 70% from three at one point in time.
01:51 The only thing for us is we couldn't put our head down.
01:54 We came in at halftime and said, it's a game of runs, it's the NBA.
01:58 Guys are gonna come in hot, ready to play.
02:01 Some guys ain't.
02:02 We happen to not be too ready to play, but I ain't gonna really say that,
02:05 cuz they was hitting contested shots at that.
02:07 So at the end of the day, it's a game of runs.
02:10 It's two halves for a reason.
02:12 And I think we just showed that we're built for whatever.
02:14 >> Of course, you're a Seattle guy.
02:18 A lot of people in the NBA world, just in the basketball world overall,
02:21 look at Seattle Natives of being great scorers.
02:24 Another great scorer from Seattle, Jamal Crawford,
02:27 who'll be eligible for the NBA Hall of Fame this year.
02:29 Do you feel like he should be a Hall of Famer?
02:31 And talk to me about how influential he's been in your career.
02:34 >> I mean, yeah, he's one on one.
02:37 He is who he is.
02:39 I think the guys that played before him, the guys that played with him, and
02:43 then us as the young guys playing after him, all believe that he's one on one.
02:47 And he's deserving whatever goes his way.
02:50 And as far as me as an individual, that dude helped me get out the streets and
02:56 helped me and my family.
02:57 It wasn't, you can go to the NBA.
03:00 It was do the right things and let God handle the rest.
03:03 And when I started doing the right things and took his advice,
03:05 I mean, the rest is history.
03:06 So I'm forever indebted with that dude.
03:10 Nothing but love and respect.
03:12 He is Seattle, he's the guy.
03:14 I'm always say that, I'm always show love to him and the rest of the guys, but
03:18 especially him, I'm just thankful and grateful to have somebody like that,
03:23 be in my corner when he'd have to.
03:25 >> I'm just curious, what does it feel like when you're that hot?
03:31 I mean, you made nine straight jumpers at one point.
03:34 What does that even feel like?
03:36 Is it different?
03:38 Does something go off in your head like, my goodness?
03:42 >> I mean, my whole life I've been a rhythm player.
03:45 Being from Seattle, if you watch everybody from Seattle, we all could dribble.
03:50 So when we start dribbling and we just touch the ball,
03:53 is this a certain rhythm we get?
03:55 As far as making shots, I'm somebody that if I miss a shot,
03:58 I'm telling myself I'm gonna make the next shot.
03:59 It doesn't matter.
04:00 I work too hard in the summers and even in the season, pre-games, off days.
04:05 I'm in the gym working on my shot, working on just everything, my balance,
04:09 my strength, and it's just a confidence thing.
04:12 So I just be in the moment, man.
04:13 I wanna win games.
04:15 Like I said, it could be my night tonight, and
04:17 it could be trade Wednesday or J or JJ, anybody.
04:21 I wonder when we figure that out, once we utilize the talent we have,
04:26 we could go a long way with that.
04:29 So that's all I'm just out there with.
04:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:33 >> I think for two nights in a row, Coach Quinn has used the phrase lift.
04:37 When he talks, he said, Jontae lifts the team.
04:39 I think he's talking about defense, but
04:41 how do you make sure that the team is feeling competitive and
04:45 confident along with you?
04:46 >> I mean, like I said, defense is the most important, and
04:53 I think we've been preaching that from the moment we started open gym, OTAs, and
04:57 camp, preseason, all the way now to the season.
05:00 We're preaching that defensive end because the offensive end,
05:04 we're so talented.
05:05 You look at our roster, you got so many guys who can score 20 or more any given
05:08 night, so we gotta put that aside, continue to work on your game,
05:13 put that on the side, and focus on defense.
05:15 So me being me, I love defense.
05:17 Not gonna find a lot of guys who love defense.
05:19 I take pride in it, I love it.
05:20 So I think it's all for me to try to bring that energy and
05:26 just be ready to go from the jump ball.
05:28 And I took accountability for some time when I wasn't ready or
05:32 something was going on mentally or whatever.
05:33 But I get paid to do this, it's my job, I want that challenge.
05:37 So I'm gonna continue to lead on the defensive end, and
05:41 hopefully everybody follows, and we just do good for each other,
05:44 help each other, and win games.
05:46 >> Xanthe, you guys have won two in a row now.
05:49 You have another opponent coming up on Wednesday.
05:52 What do you guys need to do to keep this momentum going and
05:54 take this two game winning streak to three?
05:56 >> Stay hungry, not content, not comfortable, just staying hungry,
06:02 wanting more, and moving on.
06:05 Never too high, never too low.
06:07 This game, great win today, great win last night.
06:09 But these games is over, they're in the past.
06:13 Focus on Washington, get filmed.
06:16 Cuz for me, I don't look at teams like, they're not good, or they're good, or
06:20 they're contenders.
06:21 I don't look at that.
06:22 This is the best league in the world, and we're gonna be tested every night.
06:26 And it's competitive, we want it to be competitive.
06:29 So we gotta go focus on the game plan and execute it, and
06:32 go get another great win.