Jamal Murray has not been afraid to trumpet wins over Lonzo Ball and the Lakers. Los Angeles coach Luke Walton has had enough of it.
Roughly three months after the Nuggets’ guard mockingly dribbled around Ball at the end of a Denver win, Murray once again appeared to celebrate his team’s triumph over the highliy visible rookie. After intercepting a late pass by Ball and being fouled, Murray appeared to direct some not-so-subtle comments toward the Lakers point guard.
Walton was none too impressed, telling reporters after the game that it was the second time Murray had been “disrespectful” at the end of a game.
Luke Walton calls out Jamal Murray by name — says this is second time Murray has been “disrespectful” at the end of game. Last time: dribbling around Lonzo. Tonight: trash talk.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) March 10, 2018
Nuggets coach Mike Malone admitted he did not see what prompted Walton’s postgame reaction, but told reporters he would watch the film and talk to Murray if Walton’s concerns were validated.
Michael Malone responds to Luke Walton’s claims: “If I watch the film and see that I definitely will talk to Jamal about that.”
— Bill Oram (@billoram) March 10, 2018
Murray finished the game with 22 points, eight assists and four steals. Ball put up 15 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals in the 125-116 Lakers loss. The rookie guard admitted after the game that Murray’s dribble stunt in December was a “punk move,” and dubbed his antics as “circus stuff.”
Lonzo Ball said Jamal Murray dribbling around him at end of last meeting was a “punk move.” He wouldn’t feed much into tonight’s developments but did reference Murray’s “circus stuff.”
— Bill Oram (@billoram) March 10, 2018
Murray, however, was none too apologetic about, well, anything after the game.
“I’m just gonna go out there and hoop and whoever takes it to heart and takes their losses salty, I can’t do anything about that,” Murray said.
Jamal Murray on the Lakers feeling he was disrespectful: “I'm just gonna go out there and hoop and whoever takes it to heart and takes their losses salty, I can't do anything about that.”
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) March 10, 2018
