"That was probably one of the worst defensive performances I've ever had in my entire life" – Trey Murphy III on what sparked him to become a better defender
Playing superb defense in the NBA is an arduous task. It takes immense skill, discipline, and determination to keep up with the league's most prolific scorers. More than anything, you must want to play defense to be good at it. And for the New Orleans Pelicans' young forward Trey Murphy, it was a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers that served as the turning point in his defensive development.
During an interview with Paul George on the latter's podcast, Murphy revealed that the game against the Lakers was a major catalyst for his improvement as a defender in the NBA. He described it as one of the worst defensive performances he had ever put up, and it pushed him to change his approach.
An eye-opener
As a young player making his mark in the league, Murphy has shown tremendous potential on both ends of the court. Standing at 6-foot-8 and with impressive athleticism, he has all the physical tools to excel defensively. However, it wasn't until that fateful game against the Lakers on February 9, 2024, that Trey realized he needed to change.
"I've always pointed to one specific game. It was a Lakers game here in L.A., and that was probably one of the worst defensive performances I've ever had in my entire life," the former Virginia star shared. "I literally told myself I would never feel like this again."
In that game, which the Lakers won by a mile, 139-122, every member of L.A.'s starting five scored at least 20 points, with D'Angelo Russell leading the way with 30 points. The Pelicans' defensive performance was dismal, and Murphy was beside himself for letting the Purple and Gold get into such a good rhythm.
"I was just getting cooked. It was everybody. Closeouts, blow-bys—it was literally everybody. I almost hurt BI (Brandon Ingram) because I got bumped off the line, fell, hit him, and he was laying down holding his eye. Then DLo (D'Angelo Russell) hit like four straight threes, and you know how DLo can get very, very hot," the North Carolina native continued.
It was a forgettable night for Trey, who scored only five points and ended the game with the worst +/- of any player who suited up, finishing with a -19.
After that game, Murphy sat down with his coach, Willie Green, and the latter drilled in him the importance of playing both ends of the floor to help the Pels win games.
"Coach Green, who is very defensive-minded, sat down with me after that game and said, 'You got to help me. You got to give me something on that end,'" Trey remarked.
Focused more on playing D
Despite that rough outing, the Virginia product didn't have much time to sulk as they had a game versus the Portland Trail Blazers the following night. There, the 24-year-old began showcasing his renewed defensive effort, making an impact on that side of the court.
"The next day, we played Portland, and I knew I had to be better. From that day on, I was locking up. I was paying attention to people's tendencies and taking on challenges," Murphy said of that 93-84 win, where he tallied 24 points, five rebounds, a steal, and a block.
Playing the role of defensive specialist in the NBA is a risky proposition. It's almost like you're walking on a tightrope during every game. One night, you could slow down the opposing team's top gun, and the next night, you could get lit up for 50 points. Trey knows the risks and has embraced the challenge.
"I remember when we played against y'all, they were talking about matchups, and I said, 'No, I want to guard PG (Paul George). That's a matchup I want to see.' I watched enough film to know what he likes to get to. I wanted to take on that challenge, and I feel like I did a pretty good job that night," Trey quipped.
Two-way players are a rarity in the NBA, but Murphy is the rare guy willing to work to be impactful on either end. Trey understands that success in the NBA requires a well-rounded skillset, and he's dedicated to improving his game.
