'It was so crazy' – Legendary Gregg Popovich quietly offered help for Dejounte Murray's mom after her devastating tragedy
Gregg Popovich. Image via: Getty Images
In the NBA, relationships between coaches and players rarely go beyond basketball. But Gregg Popovich and Dejounte Murray shared something to cheer for. During Murray's rookie year with the San Antonio Spurs, Popovich stepped in during one of the hardest times in the young guard's life.
When Murray's mother was shot, Pop offered his support, but more than that, he quietly tried to move her to San Antonio using his own money. He even called her himself, without telling Murray. That moment proved Popovich wasn't just coaching him; he was showing what it means to truly care.
Dejounte Murray shared Gregg Popovich's heartfelt story
When Dejounte Murray entered the NBA in 2016, he was fighting for minutes on the court, but that was the least of his concerns as he was navigating the emotional chaos that followed him from his tough Seattle upbringing.
That year, his mother was shot in the leg, adding another layer of emotional pain to an already challenging transition. But in an unexpected show of care, Gregg Popovich reached out to her directly, without even informing Murray at first.
Dejounte Murray beat impossible odds going from the Seattle streets to NBA stardom | The Pivot
'It was so crazy—a lot of my people don't even know this,' Murray shared on The Pivot Podcast. 'Pop didn't want me to go to Seattle. When I first got drafted, I wouldn't go to Seattle. And that was a man who cared about me.
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That was a man who wanted me to reach my full potential in life first—then as a basketball player.'
Popovich didn't stop at emotional support; he offered a solution with his own wallet. 'He tried to move my mom to San Antonio with his own money after she got shot. My mom was shot in the leg my rookie year. He called her himself—without me knowing until after the fact. 'We want to move you here. No—not with his money, with my money.' That sounds like a dude that cares about me and loves me, right?'
The moment shaped Murray's perception of Popovich forever.
'He's so real,' he said. 'He cared about me. He loved me with his actions, not just his words.'
That fatherly presence stood in stark contrast to Murray's own biological father. 'I had my own father, when I got hurt, text me that somebody else was taking my spot,' Murray revealed. 'This stuff is so real.'
Today, as he recovers from a torn Achilles and reflects on his journey from San Antonio to New Orleans, Murray's bond with Popovich remains the one constant in a career marked by change, loss, and growth.
'My kids need me. The youth need me,' he said. But through it all, it's clear that the life lessons Pop taught him will last much longer than any NBA season.
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As for Coach Pop, he officially stepped down from his coaching duties with the team. However, he is still with the team as President of Basketball Operations for the San Antonio Spurs. Murray is now playing for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
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