Became Second Player in Franchise History to Average at least 20.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.0 APG
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Dejounte Murray to a contract extension, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Murray appeared in 74 games (all starts) during the 2022-23 campaign, averaging 20.5 points, 6.1 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 36.4 minutes of action (.464 FG%, .344 3FG%, .832 FT%). He became just the second player in franchise history to average at least 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in a single season (Lenny Wilkens, 1967-68) and was one of only three players in the NBA this past season to post averages of at least 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals (Jimmy Butler, Paul George).
“DJ is someone we want to continue to build with. He’s a dynamic talent with the heart of a leader. He leads by example, is an unselfish teammate, and truly cares about winning,” said Hawks General Manager Landry Fields.
The 6-4 guard poured in a career-high 1,515 points this past season, while knocking down a career-best 133 triples. Murray recorded 112 total steals during the 2022-23 season, tied for the sixth-most in the NBA and the most total steals by a Hawk in a single season since 2015-16 (Paul Millsap: 147). He is the only player in the NBA who has recorded 100-or-more thefts in each of the past four seasons (2019-23).
Murray and teammate Trae Young (26.2 points, 10.2 assists, 73 games played) became just the second set of teammates in NBA history to average at least 20.0 points and 6.0 assists per game, joining Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the 1991-92 Chicago Bulls (min. 70 games played, Elias Sports).
Murray, who netted 20-or-more points in a career-best 39 games during the 2022-23 season, poured in a career-high 41 points in a win over Portland on March 3. He scored his 41 points on 17-22 shooting from the floor (.773 FG%), and a perfect 5-5 clip from three-point territory and 2-2 from the free throw line, in addition to five rebounds, six assists and one steal in 34 minutes of action.
Murray became the first player to tally at least 40 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while shooting .700 FG%, 1.000 3FG%, and 1.000 FT%, in a single game since Chris Bosh (Feb. 20, 2008) and just the fifth player in NBA history to do so (Murray, Bosh, Kevin Garnett, Clyde Drexler, Mitch Richmond).
In his first game of the season, Murray notched 20 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, five steals, and one block in 38 minutes in a win over Houston, becoming the first Hawk to record a point/assist double-double in his first game with the club since Spud Webb did so on Oct. 25, 1985.
The Seattle, Washington native appeared in five games with the Hawks during the 2023 NBA Playoffs, registering 23.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 2.0 steals in 38.0 minutes of play (.447 FG%, .378 3FG%, 1.000 FT%).
Murray was selected as an NBA All-Star during the 2021-22 season, averaging career bests in points (21.1), rebounds (8.3), assists (9.2), and steals (2.0). He's the only player in NBA history to average 20-9-8-2 over an entire season since steals were officially recognized as a stat in 1973-74.
Drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 29th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Murray has appeared in 394 games (323 starts) over his six-year career, averaging 14.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.44 steals in 27.8 minutes of play (.458 FG%, .335 3FG%, .784 FT%).