The 30-year-old Murphy has a long history with the Golden State Warriors. They were the club who originally drafted him, taking the Notre Dame product at No. 14 overall back in 2001. They were the team who crafted him into an impact NBA player — a defensive rebounder, a rangy scorer, an energetic player on both ends.
Murphy spent five and a half seasons with the Warriors. He never made the playoffs with Golden State, but his stint there was a learning process alongside quality young teammates like Jason Richardson and Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy was among the comrades who went with him to Indiana in 2007.
It wasn't until last week that Murphy found himself back with Golden State. On Feb. 23, the Wednesday before the NBA trade deadline, the New Jersey Nets unloaded Murphy from the end of their bench, packaging him with a second-round pick to bring in Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric. Murphy was back with the Warriors, and this time he wanted out.
Now he's a Celtic, and he's getting a chance to bite the hand that fed him for years.
Murphy will see an increased role in his first week on the job — with both O'Neals on the shelf and now Glen Davis out with a sore knee, he's likely to be the first big man off of Doc Rivers' bench.
Murphy and his new team take on his old club at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
