Dejounte Murray reveals what Kawhi Leonard taught him in San Antonio / News - Basketnews.com

Dejounte Murray told that Kawhi taught him how to get on the court when you're not one of the primary options offensively. The key is defense, Murray said.

Credit: USA TODAY Sports-SCANPIX Credit USA TODAY Sports-SCANPIX

Although Dejounte Murray might have some disagreements with the way he was treated in the San Antonio Spurs organization at the very beginning of his career, the now-Atlanta Hawks point guard has a special place for one of the team's stars.

Kawhi Leonard

Team:Los Angeles ClippersPosition:SF, SGAge:31Height:201 cmWeight:102 kgBirth place:Riverside, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Murray revealed that Kawhi Leonard played a crucial role in him getting better defensively and ultimately getting quality playing time.

"He's really part of the reason why I made that defensive team my second year. He came to me, and he's like 'bro, don't worry about trying to get 15-20 points, go make the all-defensive team'," Dejounte told in the 'All the Smoke' podcast.

"He told me that, year 2, training camp. 'Go make the defensive team. I guarantee you - if you go make that, now you get on the court'. Defense gets you on the court, especially in San Antonio," Murray explained.

Murray was elected into the NBA All-Defensive in 2018, which was the last Kawhi Leonard's season with the Spurs before he got traded to the Toronto Raptors.

"You can play D, now they have to have you on the floor," the Hawks guard said about his mentality back then. "If you're on the floor, your ass will have to play offense too."

"Other than that, I watched him show up every day, off days, game days, practices, before all of that, putting in work for 20-30 minutes. He's sharpened over there, getting right, after we practice, back on the court. That's all he wanted to do," Murray concluded.

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