NBA ALL-STAR RISING STARS

February 17, 2023

Trey Murphy III

Team Pau

Press Conference

Q. How did that feel?

TREY MURPHY III: Cool, obviously. It was cool. Fun experience. Got to have a little fun with the guys, play against my teammates. So, always can appreciate moments like that.

Q. Got up big on that one dunk. Was that a taste, a sneak preview for what is going to happen tomorrow?

TREY MURPHY III: Just to show people what type of time I'm going to offer Utah for Saturday in the Dunk Contest. Didn't want to do anything too crazy. Didn't want to give any previews of what I'm going to do, but definitely wanted people to see I got a little ups.

Q. More people know you as a shooter. Why do you think the dunk rep was a little slow to develop? Do you think your game is that kind of game where it's pretty balanced and pretty good shooter and do a lot of things?

TREY MURPHY III: Yeah, I mean, the dunking thing came late, first of all, so I didn't start dunking until my senior year in high school. That was probably part of it.

Then, too, just continued to work over the summer to get more athletic each and every year. That's probably what it is.

Q. You've been somewhat of a late bloomer, and then again, if you look at it now, here you are, second year in the NBA, and you are really getting attention. Did you have to kind of be patient with yourself as you were kind of coming along and knowing that, like, all right, if I just take all the steps, I'm going to get here?

TREY MURPHY III: Always. That was always my motto. Just be patient and be myself and continue to work hard every single day. That's the best way to do it because if you don't, you try to rush the process, things aren't going to go your way.

Q. What was the big key this year for the big leap in production? Was there a moment early on in the season where things just kind of clicked in for you? Some guys out. You got more of an opportunity too, right? It was probably something to do with that as well, right?

TREY MURPHY III: That's definitely part of it. I feel like it started even in preseason. One of the first games I was back, I had 27 against the Spurs, and that was one of the times where I was, like, all right, I'm ready and prepared. I just kept that confidence, kept the same energy. Just stuck with my consistent work and just tried to produce.

Q. What do you guys have to do to get back on track down the stretch?

TREY MURPHY III: Obviously health is an issue, but without that being an excuse, we just have to play together, play the right way and defend at a high level. That's the best way to do it.