Atlanta’s latest basketball megastar has been doing so much during the last couple of days. Dejounte Murray has been on a tear each off and on the courtroom since his matchup in a ProAm sport with Orlando Magic rookie and No. 1 total select Paolo Banchero. Murray put a pleasing transfer and ball faux on Banchero, then threw himself an alley-oop off the backboard, slammed it over the rookie, and were given in his face in a while.
For the reason that incident over the weekend, Murray and Banchero had been going from side to side on social media. It sort of feels Banchero may well be over it already, however that hasn’t stopped Murray from proceeding his verbal onslaught. Issues have apparently gotten non-public as Murray unfollowed Banchero on Instagram.
If it kind of feels like Murray has a chip on his shoulder, that’s as a result of he does. Maximum NBA enthusiasts more than likely by no means discovered it until you’ve lived in San Antonio the previous few years. Murray has an edge that are meant to repay for the Hawks as he groups up with Trae Younger. So far as why Murray made issues so non-public with Banchero, he took to Instagram to offer everybody, together with Paolo, some perception.
“You tried to flex on that #1 pick s–t on me when I been rooting for you when you was a kid asking to rebound for me @paolo5. Don’t get on this internet saying nothing… You changed from the humble kid you always was, and I stand on real s–t boy, and YOU KNOW!!!!!!!! You made it and changed, and I lost all respect!!
“Stay humble. This life you in now is real and ain’t no joke!!! I STILL WANNA SEE YOU WIN cause that’s WHO I AM!!!”
What adds to the drama is both players come from the same Seattle area. Although they’re about five years apart in age, it’s not like they played high school ball against each other or anything like that. Obviously, there was an interaction between the two where Murray, as the OG in this situation, felt disrespected. It could just be a hometown rivalry, but it is interesting how personal this got in seemingly a few minutes. Murray even mentions on Instagram how Banchero used to grab rebounds for him as a kid. So, there’s definitely familiarity there long before the NBA.
This feud could get deeper because the Hawks and Magic are in the same division, so these two will see each other at least four times this season. There probably won’t be a lot of them going one-on-one since Murray is a guard and Banchero a power forward, but this is one more storyline to follow heading into next season. I’m all for personal rivalries as long as it’s about hoops.