Hurt: Pigeon Hole Me at Your Peril

Steph Curry, Ray Allen and even locally Melbourne United’s Chris Goulding are known as ‘shooters’ but Hurt wants Australia, and the globe, to know – underestimate him at your peril. 

“I don’t really define myself as a shooter, I can score on multiple levels, inside, outside and obviously the three-ball,” Hurt told Phoenix Media. 

“I take pride on attributes like being a team defender, impacting on the offensive line and knowing the rotations and coverages we’re in.” 

Versatility is why Hurt was one of the league’s most sought-after players, most recently coming off a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and their G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. 

In his time in Tennessee, he averaged 20 points and seven rebounds in 33 minutes of game time, showing his scoring prowess, ability on the defensive end and incredible durability which will bode well for the Phoenix in NBL25. 

At 206cm and with his suite on enviable attributes, Hurt provides Mike Kelly and his staff the ability to rotate Hurt through a multitude of positions, and while the departure of club stalwart Mitch Creek left a gap at the four spot for Hurt to fill, he can also play the three and the five, where the Phoenix currently have just one recognised player in Jordan Hunter. 

“My coach at Memphis thought it would be best for me to play the five spot and expose that match up, sometimes they're big, sometimes they’re small, I feel like I can expose defenses because of my abilities.” 

Hurt is a student of the game, and what he can do on-court is complimented by his tenacious efforts off-court to learn plays and do opposition scouting. 

His studious nature came from the tutelage of one of the greatest coaches of all-time, Mike Krzyzewski, who claimed three Gold Medals as the US Men’s National Basketball Coach and coached the likes of Kyrie Irving, Christian Laettner and Zion Williamson in his 42 seasons as head coach of Duke. 

Hurt featured in ‘Coach K’s’ penultimate season in charge of the Blue Devils in the NCAA and credits him for teaching his basketball lessons he carries with him today. 

“He taught me what real work is, coming in every day and being able to fight. I’ve carried that over into my professional career and that’ll stick with me for the rest of my life.” 

There’ll be plenty expected of Hurt both internally and externally and he’s looking forward to the challenge of helping a team that finished last on the table last season skyrocket back into playoff contention. 

Hurt will touch down in Australia next week, and he’s looking forward to sampling some of that ‘famous coffee’ that the coaches have been selling him on.