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Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III recounts wild Ricky Rubio story from college
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- Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III recounts wild Ricky Rubio story from college
Pelicans' Trey Murphy III recounts wild Ricky Rubio story from college appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
A name who will likely be thrown around a lot in the offseason is Trey Murphy III , as the New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly shopping him around. Murphy has been linked to trade rumors since last season, and plenty of teams are interested in the all-around forward.
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Murphy was impressive in his fifth year with the Pelicans , averaging career-highs of 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals. He has developed into one of the most versatile players in the NBA, steadily improving his numbers every season.
It has been quite the journey for the 25-year-old Murphy, who started as an unknown prospect at Rice University before transferring to Virginia.
On "Young Man & the Three," Murphy recalled a "really crazy" story about playing against Ricky Rubio in a tiny gym in Spain during his freshman year in college in 2018.
"We're warming up, layup lines, and I shoot my layup and go back to the other line where you're about to rebound. I look on the other end, and I see this dude in a full-arm (tattoo) sleeve. I'm like, 'He kind of looks like Ricky Rubio. But why would Ricky Rubio be playing against Rice University right now?'" said Murphy.
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After their coach confirmed that Rubio, who was then with the Utah Jazz , was suiting up, Murphy admitted that he had a reality check.
"I haven't played one college game yet. I'm about to play against Ricky Rubio. He hit seven threes. The thing was, he wasn't that great of a shooter in the league," added Murphy.
"So I'm like, 'If he's hitting seven threes against us, what does that mean for me?' I was amazed by that. I can't lie to you. It was crazy. He made us look like we were kids."
Rubio played 12 years in the NBA, averaging 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.8 steals. Many liked playing with him because of his vision and unselfishness.
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In 2023, Rubio took a break to focus on his mental health . The following year, he announced his retirement after a contract buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He has since returned to playing. He is currently with Joventut Badalona.
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