Dejounte Murray says personal criticism is where ‘the problems come from’

Dejounte Murray says he has no problem with reporters criticizing his basketball. What crosses the line, he told reporters, is when coverage turns personal — and he used a Starbucks run-in with a Pelicans beat writer to make the point.

What Murray said

“I never live my life worrying about what somebody that’s not in these rooms is saying,” Murray said. “And then again, if that’s your job, that’s your job.”

He drew a clear distinction between holding players accountable for play and attacking who they are. “So if Dejounte was turning the ball over, that’s your job to be like, man, you got to take care of the damn ball,” he added. “You know, if Dejounte had a great game, I feel like it’s your job to (report that as well).”

The Starbucks conversation

Murray said he bumped into a Pelicans reporter he had blocked on social media. The writer asked why. “It ended up being a great conversation,” Murray said. He told the reporter that players and media are all human, and that criticism should stay on how they play rather than who they are as people. They left with “a great understanding,” he said.

“You know, never too high, never too low,” Murray stated. “I respect you guys job. I just think when it gets personal, that’s where the problems come from. But criticize me. Good, bad, it doesn’t matter when it comes to the game of basketball.”

Why it matters now

The comments land as New Orleans prepares for another season under a spotlight that mixes on-court expectations with social media noise. Murray’s message was not a request for softer coverage. It was a request for the basketball critique to stay basketball.

Sources cited by name: Dejounte Murray interview with ClutchPoints (Chris Dodson).

WhyNBA Sports Desk

The WhyNBA Sports Desk writes basketball explainers and dated news briefs. Official references stay with each guide.