Dejounte Murray shares Gregg Popovich's awe-inspiring gesture to help his mother after she was shot

Dejounte Murray credits a lot of his success in the NBA to the head coach he played under for the first four seasons of his career. The 28-year-old was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2016, and Gregg Popovich immediately took the young point guard under his wing. Murray appreciates the basketball advice that his coach gave him, but what Popovich did when his mother was shot meant much more to the guard.

On Tuesday's episode of "The Pivot Podcast," Murray opened up about his rookie year in the NBA. He explained how his mother was shot in the leg halfway through his first professional season and that instead of sending him to Seattle to go see her, Popovich offered to move her to San Antonio using his own money.

“It was so crazy—a lot of my people don’t even know this," Murray said. "Pop didn’t want me to go to Seattle. When I first got drafted, I wouldn’t go to Seattle. And that was a man who cared about me. That was a man who wanted me to reach my full potential in life first—then as a basketball player. He’s so real.

"He tried to move my mom to San Antonio with his own money after she got shot. My mom was shot in the leg my rookie year. He called her himself—without me knowing until after the fact. ‘We want to move you here. No—not with his money, with my money.’ That sounds like a dude that cares about me and loves me, right?”

Even though Popovich's time as a coach in the NBA is over, he and Murray still have a tight relationship. The point guard thanked his former head coach for giving him the opportunity to grow with the Spurs early in his career and develop into an All-Star talent.

Dejounte Murray showed Gregg Popovich love when he retired from coaching

Gregg Popovich was the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs for 29 seasons, the longest tenure as an NBA head coach in league history. Health issues prompted him to retire and transition into a front office role in the Spurs organization.

Popovich influenced the career of many players across the league, and the support for his decision was overwhelming. Murray shared his appreciation for Popovich, saying the coach's support helped him through a dark stretch of his life.

"I Love You Pop And I Thank GOD For Allowing A Basketball To Bring Us Together. The Best Part Besides You Being The GOAT Is The Way You Care For Everyone Genuinely Off The Court. In My DARKEST Days You Was Always A Shoulder To Lean And Cry On And I Will Never Forget That!!!! 🙏🏽🖤"

Dejounte Murray

@DejounteMurray

I Love You Pop And I Thank GOD For Allowing A Basketball To Bring Us Together. The Best Part Besides You Being The GOAT Is The Way You Care For Everyone Genuinely Off The Court. In My DARKEST Days You Was Always A Shoulder To Lean And Cry On And I Will Never Forget That!!!! 🙏🏽🖤

The New Orleans Pelicans guard is one of many success stories that Popovich can look back on during his career.