The advantage former Shocker Toure’ Murry has to start his NBA coaching career with 76ers

Giving up the game he had played since he was a young boy in Houston was an agonizing decision for Toure’ Murry.

The former Wichita State basketball standout knew he could keep playing when he retired last September to conclude a 10-year professional career, but the idea of going out on top — he had just won a league championship in Mexico — and healthy appealed to him.

In the later stages of his career, Murry embraced the leadership role of being a veteran and discovered a new passion: coaching.

Less than one year later, Murry is set to begin his coaching career at the NBA level as a player development associate coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. He is in the midst of his first pro experience on the sidelines this week in Las Vegas for the 76ers’ Summer League team.

“I feel like I have knowledge of the game and now I want to give back to these young guys and help them move on with their careers,” Murry told The Eagle following the 76ers’ opening game in Las Vegas. “I’m just having fun with it now because the pressure is off of me to go play in the games. Now I can just practice all day and these guys are the ones who have to go out there and play. I had a great career, so I’m happy.”

His 10-year professional career not only took Murry around the world to play basketball, including 56 total games in the NBA, but it also helped him build a robust Rolodex of coaching connections.

The one that paid off was his connection to new 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, who coached Murry on the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the 2012-13 season when they won the D-League championship. Ten years later, Nurse helped Murry get his start in the coaching world.

“We always kept in touch over the years and congratulated each other on big life events, like when he won the championship with Toronto and when I had my first child,” Murry said. “When I decided to retire, I hit him up and let him know I was available and said, ‘I’d rather come work for you.’ And with us having that relationship, he was comfortable enough to bring me along.”

Murry might be new to the coaching world, but it hasn’t taken him long to earn respect from not only the players, but also his peers on the Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff.

“Toure’ is probably one of the best human beings you’ll ever meet,” 76ers Summer League coach Rico Hines told The Eagle. “This is his first stop in the NBA as a coach and he’s soaking it all up. He’s been great and his energy has been amazing and he’s helping our younger guys because he can get out on the floor and play still. He’s still youthful and that’s the kind of developmental program that I want to build. The guys can play with him and that’s going to help them in the big picture, instead of doing 1-on-0 stuff.”

Even with more than a decade having passed since he last played for the Shockers from 2008-12, Murry has remained a favorite of Wichita State fans, who clearly cherish the memories of his game-winners against Evansville and Missouri State as a freshman and him leading WSU to the 2011 NIT championship.

Those days aren’t too far in the rear-view mirror for Murry, 33, who wants to use his youth to his advantage in his new coaching role. He has particularly enjoyed working with former Shocker Ricky Council IV, who has signed a two-way contract with the 76ers and is playing for the Summer League team.

“I think that’s my ultimate advantage and partly why I’m here to challenge these guys,” Murry said. “For the last 10 years, I’ve been a pro, so it’s only right for me to start working with the pros and NBA players are the best players in the world. Who doesn’t want to work with the best? With me still being in shape, I’m able to go on the court and show them what I want. I think that’s easier for players to understand when you’re able to show them yourselves.”

When Murry became a professional basketball player, his goal was to reach the very top of his profession.

He has the same goals for his coaching career.

“I definitely could see myself as a head coach someday,” Murry said. “I think anytime you start something new, you want to go to the very top. The amount of people who have been mentors to me and the coaches I’ve been around are going to really help me in this NBA game. I know this is a process and I’m just willing to learn every single day.”