After starring at Rider and spending two seasons in the G League, Dwight Murray Jr. is still chasing his NBA dream. Here's how the veteran point guard and former All-MAAC standout is trying to turn his Summer League opportunity with Brooklyn into something more.
After starring at Rider University and spending the past two seasons in the NBA G League, Dwight Murray Jr. is looking to turn years of professional experience into his first NBA opportunity with the Brooklyn Nets.
The 6-foot, 180-pound guard joins Brooklyn's Summer League roster after going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. At 26 years old, Murray is the oldest player on the Nets' Summer League team, bringing veteran experience, leadership and proven playmaking ability as he competes for a training camp invitation and potentially a spot with the Long Island Nets next season.
College Career
A native of Austell, Georgia, Murray began his collegiate career at the University of the Incarnate Word, where he spent two seasons developing into one of the Southland Conference's top guards. As a sophomore, he averaged 9.6 points and 2.4 assists per game while scoring in double figures 16 times and shooting 88.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Following his sophomore season, Murray transferred to Rider University, a move that transformed his career.
He made an immediate impact during his first season with the Broncs in 2020-21, averaging 15.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range. He earned All-MAAC Second Team honors, finished among the conference leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists and three-point percentage, and established himself as one of the league's most complete guards.
Murray continued to elevate his game over the next two seasons. As a junior, he led the MAAC in both assists (4.7) and minutes played (37.4) while averaging 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He earned MAAC All-Championship Team honors after averaging 17.3 points, 6.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds during Rider's conference tournament run, highlighted by a game-winning floater to upset top-seeded Iona in the quarterfinals.
His senior season cemented his legacy as one of Rider's all-time great guards. Murray earned First Team All-MAAC and Second Team All-Met honors after averaging 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists while ranking among the conference leaders in minutes, steals, assists and three-point shooting. He scored in double figures 23 times, including a pair of 30-point performances during his Rider career, proving he could take over games as a scorer whenever his team needed him.
While Murray was certainly capable of putting up big scoring numbers, his versatility made him especially valuable. He could control a game as a scorer, facilitator or rebounder despite standing just 6 feet tall, consistently filling the stat sheet on both ends of the floor.
His final season at Rider also brought the opportunity to learn from one of the program's greatest players. Former NBA forward Jason Thompson returned to the Broncs as Director of Player Development, allowing Murray to receive valuable advice from the only Rider alumnus to reach the NBA. Now, Murray hopes to follow in Thompson's footsteps and become the second.
Professional Outlook
After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, Murray signed with KK Mornar in Montenegro, where he spent the 2023-24 season beginning his professional career overseas.
The following summer, he received a phone call that meant everything to him.
The College Park Skyhawks, the Atlanta Hawks' G League affiliate located just outside his hometown of Austell, offered him an opportunity to return home. For Murray, playing professionally in his own backyard carried special significance after beginning his career overseas.
Over the past two seasons with College Park, Murray has averaged 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 0.8 steals in 23.1 minutes per game while establishing himself as one of the team's primary ball handlers. He also showcased his elite passing ability with a remarkable 17-assist performance on March 11, 2025.
Now, Summer League gives Murray another opportunity to prove he belongs at the NBA level. A strong showing could earn him an Exhibit 10 contract, a training camp invitation or a return to the G League, whether that's with the Long Island Nets or another organization.
Scouting Report
Murray's greatest strengths are his leadership, versatility and ability to run an offense.
A true floor general, he plays with excellent pace and consistently makes the right reads with the basketball. His passing vision allows him to create quality looks for teammates, but he's equally capable of taking over as a scorer when called upon. Throughout his college career, Murray routinely showed he could go for 30 points on any given night while also impacting games as a rebounder and defender.
Despite being just 6 feet tall, Murray rebounds exceptionally well for his position and competes with toughness on both ends of the floor. His experience allows him to stay under control, make smart decisions, and provide stability at the point guard position.
Perhaps Murray's biggest strength, however, isn't something that shows up in the box score.
During Murray's final season at Rider, I worked as a student manager for the Broncs and had the opportunity to see firsthand the leadership qualities that don't always show up in the box score. He was the unquestioned leader of the program, setting the standard every day through his work ethic, professionalism, and willingness to hold both himself and his teammates accountable. He earned the respect of everyone in the locker room and consistently led by example, qualities that have carried over into his professional career.
Off the court, Murray has also emphasized the importance of academics, faith and personal growth. A business marketing graduate from Rider, he has credited his education with helping him develop communication and leadership skills while often speaking about how his faith helped him balance the demands of school and basketball. Looking beyond his playing career, Murray has said one of his long-term goals is to become a college basketball head coach.
The biggest challenge for Murray is his size. At 6 feet tall, he'll need to continue proving he can defend bigger guards and consistently create advantages against NBA-caliber athletes. While his experience and basketball IQ help offset some of those concerns, he'll need to continue showing he can impact games against elite competition.
How He Fits With Brooklyn
Brooklyn has consistently used Summer League and Exhibit 10 contracts to identify experienced players who can help establish a winning culture in Long Island while continuing to develop professionally.
Murray fits that mold perfectly.
His leadership, maturity, and ability to organize an offense would make him a valuable addition to any G League roster, while his experience playing professionally overseas and in the G League gives him a level of polish that many Summer League players lack.
Although earning an NBA roster spot will be a difficult task, Murray appears to be a strong candidate to join the Long Island Nets if Brooklyn wants a veteran point guard capable of mentoring younger players while contributing on the floor.
His favorite NBA player growing up was Damian Lillard. Now entering his fourth professional season, Murray continues chasing that same dream of reaching the league himself.
Whether that opportunity comes with Brooklyn or another organization, few players on the Nets' Summer League roster bring the combination of leadership, experience and perseverance that Murray has built throughout his basketball journey.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roundtable-rtb/id6450423049) and stay even more connected!
