"I got active in the streets at 11 years old" - Dejounte Murray on his troubled Seattle childhood
Dejounte Murray's journey to becoming a standout NBA player is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in 1996, Murray grew up on the mean streets of Seattle, Washington. From an early age, facing unimaginable hurdles, it initially didn't seem that the Atlanta Hawks player could ever make it out.
"I got active in the streets at 11 years old. When I mean active in the streets, not just on the corner. They knew my name when I got on the block," recalled Murray during an 2020 appearance on 'Posted Up.'
Tough beginnings
In such an age, children should enjoy an innocent and sheltered childhood. On the other hand, it looked quite different for Murray, which still leaves its marks today.
"I don't even have a favorite cartoon. That's how much I was in the streets…I can't even tell my daughter I had a favorite cartoon growing up…that bothers me a lot," he opened up, per Sports Illustrated.
Instead, roaming the streets in the impoverished and notorious South End neighborhood became commonplace for young Dejounte.
"A young kid in the streets, gangbanging, around drugs and just doing anything to get money, that was what it was…It was that or it was no way," remarked Murray.
A genuine support system remained elusive, as Dejounte's family members - his mother frequently incarcerated and his father seldom seen - had to struggle of their own.
"I'm not the only one in my family that went through the worst," said the one-time All-Star. "You hear the word cycle, like it's just a cycle; it's passed down from generations. Everything was passed down to us. Selling drugs or doing whatever in the streets, it was normal to my family."
Triumph over setbacks
The low point came, unsurprisingly, not much later as Murray was arrested and spent time in juvenile detention. Fortunately, an unquestionable basketball talent lay within him, allowing him to attend high school in Seattle.
While he then excelled with the Vikings, none other than the school's alum, Jamal Crawford, took notice of him. Enthused by Murray's potential, J-Crossover became his mentor.
After a brief setback, namely another incarceration, it finally clicked for Murray. He was able to steer clear of any more missteps by completely redirecting his focus to basketball.
After one season with the University of Washington, he entered the 2016 NBA Draft, where the San Antonio Spurs selected him as a late first-round pick. Dejounte had truly made it - shifting from street life with no future to the glitz and glamour of the league.
"This s*** is crazy when I wake up. I'm playing in the NBA. I'm on a video game. I have fans that buy my jersey. It still don't feel real. I've been here five years; I feel like it's a dream still," he shared.
In his seventh season, Murray continues to excel as a tenacious two-way guard. In 2022, he clinched the steals leader title. He earned a first-time All-Star nomination - achievements that, though impressive, pale in comparison to him remarkably making it out of the streets.
