Atlanta Hawks guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray may be destined for a breakup but it isn’t because of a fractured relationship.
This week, the All-Star duo appeared on From the Point, Young’s Bleacher Report-sponsored podcast. Addressing rumors of a schism that began last season, Young and Murray revealed their viewpoint of one another. Usually, fans and media only have a bird’s eye view of locker room dynamics, so their willingness to open up about their relationship provides both with a unique opportunity.
Trae Young, Dejounte Murray Bring Off-Court Relationship to Light Amid Trade Rumors
“I mean, I think our relationship is good,” Young begins.
“I mean, I feel like, to be honest, there’s not a memory I don’t have with this dude that I don’t remember.”
“Like, all the way back from knowing who he was in high school, but just him coming to the team, or him having the thought about coming to the (Hawks), and then us getting on the phone, and I’m calling him. And then us talking about having a chance.
“I think relationships can always be better if your team’s winning… But, I think there are certain relationships that you have that are just deeper than basketball… He’s one of those guys that, I mean, it’s forever deeper than that. So, I got a good relationship with him, man.”
“Like, there are a lot of memories that I have with this dude,” Young continues. “So, it’s beyond basketball when it comes to our relationship with me.”
“On my end, it’s simple,” Murray says.
“Basketball is a game to just be played,” he explains. “You win or you lose. You’re either competitive or you’re not. The stuff that I think make us click is I see him with his family, his kids, his boys, and just how tight they are.”
“When you meet somebody successful and they got they Day 1s or just their family around them, that speaks volumes ‘cause lot of people change. It’s either you change or the people around you change. So, for me, it starts there. So when I see that it speaks of who you are.”
“And I’m pretty sure he could see the same with me,” the Seattle native notes.
The Last Word on Trae Young and Dejounte Murray’s Relationship
As mentioned, the Hawks appear set on splitting up their star backcourt. However, those rumors are more about the overlap between them and the team’s needs due to that redundancy. With two high-volume point guards that leave a lot to be desired as on-ball defenders, Atlanta needs a wing that can complement one of them more than it needs to keep both of them.
Last season, there were rumors of locker room dissension. In many ways, it sounded as if there was a power struggle between the two, with players gravitating towards Murray’s leadership. On the court, Young’s usage and the volume of his attempts forced Murray into an awkward off-ball role. Yet, until the week before his injury, Young continued to take that approach.
None of this meant they weren’t as thick as thieves off the court. Nonetheless, as many know, not all friends are meant to be co-workers.
