Dejounte Murray recalls almost being murdered when he was a kid - "If it wasn't for that moment, an 8-year-old would've got killed in a crossfire"
Dejounte Murray recalls almost being murdered when he was a kid - "If it wasn't for that moment, an 8-year-old would've got killed in a crossfire" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Dejounte Murray's journey from the South End of Seattle, Washington, to becoming an NBA All-Star was difficult and littered with obstacles. One particular event stands out in Murray's memory – the day he almost lost his life at just eight years old.
Advertisement
Growing up in a rough neighborhood, Murray was no stranger to violence and danger. But on that fateful day, as he was riding in the front seat of a car driven by his uncle Reuben, he found himself caught in the middle of a conflict between rival gangs.
The current point guard of the New Orleans Pelicans recounted that harrowing experience during his appearance on "The Pivot" podcast, saying it galvanized his need to protect himself at all times, up to this very day.
A tough childhood
Murray's rough upbringing is no secret. He was already active on the streets at an age when most kids were still playing with toys. Growing up in Seattle's inner city, he was exposed to a life of crime from a young age. In fact, he spent time in juvenile detention.
Advertisement
"For me, it was just tough, always," Dejounte spoke, his expression thoughtful and reflective. "I just remember a moment. I was about, what, seven, eight years old and I was in the car with him and all his partners. And we end up just driving, we going to my cousin's house."
"And a real situation happened. And you know, we got pulled over. And there was about eight guns drawn on us," he continued. "It was a real moment for me. You know, as an eight-year-old, sitting in that front seat with him and not knowing what's going on."
Fortunately, Murray's cousin happened to be in the other car and prevented the bloodshed from happening. However, it was a moment that resonated with the young Dejounte and shaped his perspective on life.
"If it wasn't for that moment, like I wouldn't be sitting here with y'all. An eight-year-old would have got killed in a crossfire or something we had nothing to do with," he remarked.
Advertisement
Related: "They are going to have to start to paying guys" - Doc Rivers breaks down why OKC won't be able to keep this team together
Murray's eyes were open to the realities of his neighborhood
That moment was pivotal for Dejounte. Though he was still young and could barely fend for himself, he knew, right then and there, that if he were to make a name for himself, he had to ensure he was alive to do so.
"From that moment on, it kind of opened my eyes as a eight-year-old, like 'Damn, this is what's going on outside of the house,'" Murray shared. "That was like, you know, one of the real moments for me. You know, an eight-year-old seeing that. And then from that moment, I'm like, I'll never be in that situation again. Like I'mma forever protect myself. You know?"
Advertisement
It took a while for Dejounte to get on the right path. Surrounded by people who knew no other way to live than to gang bang and sell drugs, he ended up in juvenile detention before meeting Jamal Crawford, an NBA superstar and a Seattle legend.
Vowing to make a better life for himself, Dejounte, who stands 6'5" with long arms, became a highly-touted high school player who eventually played at the University of Washington. He was then selected in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2016 NBA Draft and never looked back, becoming an All-Star in 2022.
Related: "He doesn't make the decisions around here" - Larry Bird sent a strong message to Paul George, who didn't want to play power forward for Indiana
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
35 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Wizards and Hornets make intriguing picks in NBA draft despite lack of good lottery luck
The Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards produced two of the three worst records in the NBA last season — and neither received a top-three draft pick. After that uninspiring bit of lottery luck, they tried to make the best of it. The Wizards and Hornets had two first-round picks each, with Washington selecting Tre Johnson at No. 6 and Will Riley at No. 21, and Charlotte taking Kon Knueppel fourth and Liam McNeeley 29th. Those two teams accounted for over half of the Southeast Division's seven first-round picks in the NBA draft Wednesday night. Last year, this division owned the top two picks, which were made by Atlanta and Washington. The Wizards and Hornets could've been in that position this year with a little better fortune, but it was an intriguing night for them nonetheless. Washington added some scoring punch with Johnson, and the Hornets finally got 7-footer Mark Williams traded after a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers fell through last season. Charlotte sent him to Phoenix and got the 29th pick in return. Also active on the trade market were the Hawks, who dealt away the 13th pick and received the 23rd selection. That was after they'd already traded No. 22 in a deal bringing Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta . It was a quieter night for Miami and Orlando, which made one pick each in the latter half of the first round. Charlotte Hornets Needs: You name it, the Hornets need it. Most notably, Charlotte had to stabilize the center position after trading Williams to the Phoenix Suns (and dealing away backup Nick Richards last year). But that didn't happen, leaving Jusuf Nurkic and Moussa Diabate as the Hornets' big men and a big hole in the roster. But after winning only 19 games, improving 3-point shooting, rebounding and defense were also priorities and the team addressed some of those. Who they drafted: Knueppel from Duke and McNeeley from UConn. NBA comparisons: Knueppel draws comparisons to Cam Johnson and Bojan Bogdanović for his shooting ability, savvy play and basketball IQ. McNeeley has been compared to Corey Kispert. Washington Wizards Needs: After winning 33 games over the past two seasons, the Wizards still need whatever young talent they can find, and after drafting center Alex Sarr last year, it made sense that they would look to the perimeter. They could use a pure scorer since their recent draft picks — who have shown promise in general — have not been all that efficient in that department. Who they drafted: Johnson of Texas and Riley of Illinois. NBA comparison: Johnson has been compared to Tyler Herro , who is also 6-foot-5. That was an offense-oriented pick. Miami Heat Needs: The Heat clearly needed a boost on offense. Who they drafted: Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis from Illinois. He's a good shooter, good slasher and excellent in the pick-and-roll. A strong finisher as well, and some of the passes he tried at the college level showed he was NBA-ready. NBA comparison: For a Miami standpoint, try Goran Dragic — another smart European who wasn't afraid to go into the lane, draw contact and use his body against bigger defenders. Atlanta Hawks Needs: The Hawks' need for help at center was addressed in the trade for Porzingis. The deal left Atlanta looking to take the best player available before trading the No. 13 pick to New Orleans for the No. 23 pick and a 2026 first-rounder. Who they drafted: The Hawks stayed in state to take University of Georgia power forward Asa Newell, who averaged 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds. He played strong defense and showed a midrange jumper. NBA comparison: Newell has been compared with former NBA forward Paul Millsap, who played four seasons in Atlanta. Orlando Magic Needs: The Magic acquired Desmond Bane from Memphis in a recent trade, a move they hope can improve their shooting. Four first-round picks went to the Grizzlies in the deal, so it's clear Orlando is in win-now mode. Picking 25th, the Magic tried to find a sleeper late in the first round. Who they drafted: Michigan State's Jase Richardson, whose father Jason also played for the Magic. NBA comparison: Richardson isn't big enough to be compared to his father, but if he can show similarity to Philadelphia's Jared McCain , the Magic would probably be pretty happy. ___ AP NBA:
New York Times
38 minutes ago
- New York Times
Coach Jason Kidd to return for fifth season with Mavericks, GM Nico Harrison says after NBA Draft
Jason Kidd will be back for his fifth season as the Dallas Mavericks' coach. That's what Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said Wednesday, hours after his team selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick. 'Are there rumors still out there about J-Kidd?' Harrison said. 'I thought I shut them down. Yes, he will be the coach next year.' Advertisement The New York Knicks have expressed serious interest in poaching Kidd from the Mavericks. The Knicks, who fired Tom Thibodeau three days after the Indiana Pacers eliminated them from the Eastern Conference finals, formally requested to interview Kidd on June 11. The Harrison-led front office in Dallas swiftly denied that request. Kidd has two years remaining on his contract with the Mavericks. He was part of the franchise's welcoming crew when Flagg did a two-day visit to Dallas the week before the draft. On ESPN's broadcast Wednesday, Flagg said he had positive conversations with Kidd in the lead-up to the draft. 'I think he has a lot of confidence in me to just come in and be an impact player,' Flagg told ESPN. 'He's going to let me have the ball a little, I think, and just try to rock out and do what I can do.' Kidd was one of five known coaches the Knicks asked to interview. The Knicks expressed interest in Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets), Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls), Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Quin Snyder (Atlanta Hawks). None of those franchises granted the Knicks permission to speak to their coaches. Udoka and Donovan received contract extensions. It remains unclear whether the Mavericks will tack more years onto Kidd's deal, given the Knicks' interest in him. The Mavericks have a 179-149 record in Kidd's four seasons in charge. They made the Western Conference finals in 2022, and in 2024, they won the West before their postseason run came to an end against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Though Kidd is returning, his coaching staff is expected to look significantly different next season. Sean Sweeney, Kidd's top assistant in Dallas, left to be the San Antonio Spurs' associate head coach. Jared Dudley is a candidate to be an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers, according to league sources. In March, Alex Jensen accepted a job to be the men's basketball coach at Utah. It's also possible Dallas loses God Shammgod, who is a candidate to join Jamahl Mosley's staff with the Orlando Magic. Kidd is expected to speak Friday, when the Mavericks formally introduce Flagg in a news conference in Dallas.
New York Post
38 minutes ago
- New York Post
Atlanta NBA, WNBA reporter Tabitha Turner allegedly pepper-sprayed, assaulted by Uber driver on side of highway
An Atlanta-based NBA and WNBA reporter claims she was pepper-sprayed and physically assaulted by an Uber driver during a violent altercation on the side of the highway, and is now facing online threats because of the incident. Tabitha Turner, the team reporter for the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Dream, was picked up from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Saturday by driver Nicole Smith. 'I just wanted to go home from work and see my daughter. I've got threats,' Turner told reporters Wednesday at a press conference. 'I didn't ask for this.' 5 Tabitha Turner speaks to reporters after her alleged assault on June 25, 2025. Tabitha Turner/Instagram Turner says she had ordered an Uber Comfort, which allows passengers to choose the type of experience for their drive, including the desired interior temperature. Turner and her attorney claim she had selected to have a 'cool' ride with the windows up and air conditioning on. 'One thing that she noticed when her Uber pulled up, right off the rip, was that this clearly wasn't a comfort vehicle,' Turner's lawyer, Miguel Dominquez, told reporters. 'She was a little thrown off giving what she inputted into the app, that there was no air conditioning on and the windows were down and we've got 90-degree plus weather out there,' he added. As Smith drove northbound on I-85, Turner asked the driver to roll the windows up and turn on the A/C to match what she requested, Dominquez said. Smith allegedly got upset by the request and pulled over into the emergency lane of the highway and told Turner to get out of her car, Fox 5 Atlanta reported, citing police. 5 Turner recorded herself in the backseat of the car as she talked with Nicole Smith. Tabitha Turner/Instagram The driver's excuse for not closing the windows was that she liked to leave the windows down in case passengers are sick, Turner told reporters. The quick-thinking reporter pulled out her phone and began recording the roadside interaction with Smith, telling the irritated driver she wouldn't get out of the car unless Smith refunded the fare or police were called. Smith turned around and pepper-sprayed her passenger in the face, according to video captured by Turner and obtained by the outlet. The agitated chauffeur got out of the car, rushed to the rear passenger-side door and yanked Turner out of the car before 'physically assaulting her.' 5 Uber driver Nicole Smith sitting in the driver's seat during the incident on I-85 on June 21, 2025. Tabitha Turner/Instagram A passerby had pulled over and began recording the altercation, later providing video evidence to the police. Investigators, using both Turner's and the witness's footage, determined Smith was the aggressor. An arrest warrant was issued for Smith. She faces charges of battery and simple battery. 'To pull over on the expressway suddenly, in the emergency lane with vehicles flying by, and to decide you're going to tell the passenger, 'You need to get out with your bags on the side of the expressway,' is not a reasonable request by any stretch of the imagination,' Dominquez said. 'It was unsafe for her to do so, and it was completely unreasonable,' he added. 5 Smith points pepper-spray at Turner during the roadside altercation. Tabitha Turner/Instagram Smith took to social media to tell her side of the altercation, claiming her actions were done in self-defense because Turner allegedly had a gun, the driver said in a video viewed over a million times, according to AtlantaNewsFirst. Turner asserts Smith began harassing her on social media after the altercation, claiming the reporter was at fault for the highway beatdown. 'I've received threats via social media about my karma that's coming to me,' Turner said, fighting back tears. 'Defaming my character, calling me all kinds of names. Saying things about why I attacked her and just how horrible of a person I am.' 5 Turner captured the moment she was struck by the pepper-spray. Tabitha Turner/Instagram Turner, who welcomed her first child with her husband back in May 2024, says some of the insults attacked her as a mother, as the online bullies even reached out to her coworkers. 'I have a 1-year-old daughter that I like to take to the games with me and I can't take her because I don't know who's going to be there to attack me,' Turner said. The reporter thanked the WNBA's Dream for providing additional security for her. Dominquez says it was an isolated event, but believes he might find a pattern when he starts looking into the process on how Uber drivers are selected. 'What we may find is that there is a pattern here of charging customers an elevated amount for a particular type of ride, and actually not being able to fulfill that ride that's being purchased,' Dominquez said. The Post has reached out to Uber for comment.
