An accurate shooter, Willie Murrell was also a solid defensive basketball player. The native of Taft, Oklahoma starred at Kansas State and helped them reach the 1964 NCAA Final Four before losing to UCLA despite Murrell's red-hot performence of 29 points that game.
Willie Murrell signed with the Denver Rockets during the ABA's inaugural season, where they played with red, white and blue basketballs. In 1967-68 as a rookie, Willie compiled a 16.4 points per game average and 9.0 rebounds per game. Murrell, a 6-ft 6-inch forward, along with guard Larry Jones and forward Wayne Hightower helped Denver post a solid 45-33 regular season record in the ABA West Division. However, after the season Willie Murrell was traded to the Miami Floridians, 1968-69. He also played with the Kentucky Colonels in 1969-70. |