Saturday San Antonio Spurs guards Lonnie Walker IV and Dejounte Murray spoke with the media virtually from the NBA ‘bubble’ in Orlando, Florida.
They addressed a number of questions from reporters during the press conference.
“For me, I’m good,” said Walker IV of resuming the season. “I’m just ready to play basketball. I’m still trying to get my foot in the door.”
“I just want to be more consistent with my game,” said Walker IV of his goal during the games in Orlando.
“It was tough,” said Murray of the season initially being suspended in March, “but at the same time, I knew the whole world was going through it, not just me.”
In mid-June, Walker IV revealed on social media that he was cutting his hair after he revealed personal details from his life about being sexually abused as a child.
“I got a ton of support from the community,” said Walker IV after the social media post. “Not just the community, from around the world. It wasn’t about me. I wanted to be a beacon, I wanted to help out as many people as I can.”
“This has been something that I’ve been battling for years,” continued Walker IV. He said the time spent during quarantine really made him think about how he could make a bigger difference for others through his actions going forward.
Along with Walker IV and Murray, the Spurs have a number of players who will be part of their youth movement for years down the road such as Keldon Johnson, Luka Samanic, and Derrick White.
“Just hunger,” said Walker IV of what drives the younger players. “We’re a young athletic group that wants to play defense. We’re starving, we’re ready to play, we’re ready to win.”
“Just be patient,” said Murray of his message to the younger players, “we’re all putting the work in and we’re ready to play basketball.”
Asked what it’ll be like to start competitive games quickly in order to try to earn a playoff berth, Murray said, “Hoopers hoop. Being from Seattle, Washington, we hoop.”
