Spurs, Dejounte Murray Agree on 4-Year, $64 Million Contract Extension
Dejounte Murray agreed to a contract extension (Source via Twitter)
The San Antonio Spurs and Dejounte Murray have reportedly agreed on a contract extension that will pay $64 million over the next four seasons. The contract is said to be fully guaranteed.
The details of the deal are in line with what SpursTalk estimated would be a fair contract extension for both sides. The Spurs get their point guard of the future under contract for the next five seasons, while Murray gets financial security and doesn’t have to risk getting injured again prior to becoming a restricted free agent next summer.
The 23-year-old guard, who missed all of last season after suffering a torn ACL, averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 18.5 minutes per game in the preseason. He shot 44.4% from the floor, 78.6% from the free throw line and went 3-for-5 on three-pointers in the five exhibition games.
Murray was in line to start last season prior to the injury. During the preseason, he started each of the five games at point guard, with incumbent point guard Derrick White backing him up.
If the Spurs are to have a successful season this year, Murray is going to have to build upon the campaign he had two years ago. That season, the then 21-year-old posted averages of 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 21.5 minutes per game. More importantly than his numbers was the fact that he was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to achieve that honor.
Last season, the Spurs had the 19th ranked defense in the NBA. With Murray at the helm, they hope to be able to make a substantial leap up the defensive leaderboard.
Murray and the Spurs begin the 2019-20 campaign Wednesday night in San Antonio versus the New York Knicks.