New Jersey’s Own Troy Murphy is Coming Home, Well Sort Of.

by Nick Barritta • August 14, 2010 • Sports & Leisure • Comments (0) • 3898

That nice boy from Sparta is coming to the Nets

In part of a four team NBA trade, the New Jersey Nets acquired New Jersey’s own Troy Murphy from the Indiana Pacers. The Nets will in turn ship guard Courtney Lee off to the Houston Rockets in order to make room for the Big Irishman.

The deal was the first from new general manager Billy King, whom after consulting with new coach Avery Johnson, decided a proven power forward was a top priority to compliment the Nets number three overall pick Derrick Favors and all star center Brook Lopez.

Troy Murphy brings with him an average of 12.6-points and 8.6 rebounds a game and has averaged a double double five times in nine NBA seasons. The 6 foot 11, 265 pound veteran grew up in Sparta, attended Delbarton High School in Morristown and choose to play college at Notre Dame until he was drafted in the NBA fourteenth overall by the Golden State Warriors.

Murphy holds a present record in the NBA that most players would not like to have. He has played the most consecutive seasons in the NBA without making the playoffs. By coming back home to Jersey, it looks like Troy may hold that record for many more years as the Nets were non-existent during the biggest free agent pool the NBA has ever seen. Poor Troy, he gets to play in front of family and friends forty times a year, but may make history in a category that no player ever wants to be in. With his $11,968,253 salary, I am sure Troy Murphy is one happy chap while playing out the final year of his contract.