"Hurt my heart I ain't in the f**king playoffs": Dejounte Murray vents out frustration after disappointing season with Hawks
Dejounte Murray and the Atlanta Hawks failed to make the playoffs this season. They were ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference but were eliminated by the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament. The Hawks guard was heartbroken by his team’s elimination from the postseason.
Murray expressed his disappointment for not being a part of the playoffs on his Instagram handle.
“It hurt my heart I ain’t in the fu**ing playoffs,” he wrote.
However, he added a second story saying he was motivated to work harder.
“The work never stop though … attack development with the mindset like we still poor!!!” Murray wrote.
Of his eight seasons in the league, Murray has made the playoffs only three times in his career. He did it twice with the San Antonio Spurs in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons and once with the Hawks last season. Last season, the Hawks were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
The Hawks failed to go higher in the standing in the Eastern Conference because the team was dealing with injuries. Trae Young suffered a ligament tear in his pinky finger that kept him out for multiple weeks. In his absence, the Hawks went for a 14-14 record, which was a big blow for the team.
Moreover, the Hawks didn’t have veteran-level scorers with experience to carry the team in Young’s absence. Dejounte Murray was the best player on their offense, which wasn’t enough to beat good teams.
Dejounte Murray is ready to prioritize his mental health
Mental health is recently one of the most discussed topics in the NBA. Players struggling to cope with the pressure and fame that come with the sport have become a real issue in the league. The players have not only admitted they are struggling with mental health but have also been outspoken about it.
Recently, Dejounte Murray shared on X / Twitter that he will focus on his mental health once the Hawks’ season ends this year.
MENTAL HEALTH Is Finally My #1 Priority Right Now … Been Holding In And Running From My Built Up Trauma And Pain For Years!!!!
Before Murray, several players like DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Love, Draymond Green and Damian Lillard have spoken about struggles with mental health. Most recently, Ricky Rubio, the former Cleveland Cavaliers guard, retired from the NBA. He cited his mental health as the cause.