New Charlotte Bobcats guard Flip Murray saw his first action of the season this past weekend, debuting on Friday with a win over his former team, the Atlanta Hawks. While in Chicago, Joel Brigham caught up with Flip to see how he was feeling, and what he was looking forward to now that he's back in business.
To start the year not in uniform is frustrating, but how good did it feel to get out there and play so well, especially against your former team in the Atlanta Hawks?
"It was good. You know I had to miss some games because at the end of the preseason I got a little stress reaction, which was a little set-back for me. But I've had time to rehab and play a little, and yeah, I had a pretty solid individual performance last night but we all put it together and got a big win against a good team."
When the Hawks made that move for Jamal Crawford last year, did you pretty much get the sense that your time with them was over, or did you still hold out hope that you'd be able to come back?
"I did. Once I saw they'd signed him I knew they were going to a different direction, and I didn't think they were really looking to bringing me back. They did it so early and it was so quick that I knew they were going a different direction. I didn't get any feedback from them, no phone calls from them or anything like that, so I kind of knew."
Was that insulting to you at all considering how well you played for them last season?
"Nah, you just have to look at it as a business. It's still a business, even though it's basketball. There's no hard feelings. Those are wonderful guys and I wish them the best of luck. I still keep in contact with some of them, so I wish them nothing but luck."
So where does your mind go when you see that happen? Is there this feeling of dread that you have to change teams again and spend all summer looking for a new employer?
"It's been like that my whole career, so I'm used to it. It is what it is, but I thank God that I got a job somewhere. I'm grateful to have ended up in Charlotte. I'm a Bobcat now, so we'll go from there."
Has there ever been a team where you felt like you maybe could've stayed long term and ended your career there?
"Like I said, because it's a business you never get your hopes up too high. In the thick of things can change, so you just take it for what it is in the moment and go with it from there."
Murray's second performance in Chicago (7 points on 3-for-12 shooting in a loss) certainly wasn't as heartwarming as his first performance of the season against Atlanta (15 points in 18 minutes for a win), but with the offensive woes the Bobcats seem to be having this season, his offense is going to be very important to Charlotte's success. It might take him a few games to get his conditioning right, but he'll get there. When he does, look for him to return to his high-octane offensive form.
