Erik Murphy Drafted 49th Overall by Chicago Bulls
Friday, June 28, 2013 | Men's Basketball
Erik Murphy has been drafted 49th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2013 NBA Draft, the 35th Florida player all-time to be selected and 17th under head coach Billy Donovan. Florida has had at least one draftee in six of the past seven years, and Murphy joins a Chicago team that includes Gator great Joakim Noah.
“I'm really proud of Erik,” Donovan said. “He has worked hard to reach this point and has a great opportunity in front of him.”
The 6-foot-10 Murphy joins a quickly-growing list of Florida big men making the jump to the NBA. Since 2003, he is the 11th Gator standing 6-foot-9 or taller to be drafted. Those 11 players along with the undrafted Udonis Haslem have combined to earn five NBA All-Star appearances (two by Al Horford, two by David Lee, one by Noah), two All-NBA Teams (Horford, Lee), three NBA All-Rookie Teams (Udonis Haslem, Horford, Chandler Parsons), two NBA All-Defensive Teams (both by Noah) and five NBA Championships (Matt Bonner, Corey Brewer, three by Haslem).
Murphy also fits the mold of several other four-year Florida players who have developed from role player as a freshman into an All-SEC performer as a senior before being drafted, much like Bonner, Lee and Parsons. After averaging just six minutes per game as a freshman, Murphy grew into a two-year starter who averaged 12.2 points and 5.5 rebounds as a first-team All-SEC performer as a senior in 2012-13.
The South Kingstown, R.I., native scored 1,052 career points at UF and led the SEC in 3-point field goal percentage (.453) last season. He is the third Florida player to be drafted by the Bulls, along with Noah (2007) and Bonner (2003).
Gator Big Men in the NBA
Since 2003, the Gators have had 11 players listed 6-foot-9 or taller drafted into the NBA in addition to Udonis Haslem, who entered the league in 2003 as a free agent. Here is a look at their resumes:
| Player | Year Drafted | Team | NBA Accomplishments |
| Matt Bonner | 2003 | Chicago Bulls | 2007 NBA Champion; 2011 3-Point FG Pct. Leader |
| Udonis Haslem | 2003 (FA) | Miami Heat | 2006, '12, '13 NBA Champion; 2004 NBA All-Rookie Team |
| Christian Drejer | 2004 | New Jersey Nets | Elected to play overseas |
| David Lee | 2005 | New York Knicks | 2013 All-NBA Team; 2010, '13 NBA All-Star |
| Al Horford | 2007 | Atlanta Hawks | 2011 All-NBA Team; 2010, '11 NBA All-Star, 2008 NBA All-Rookie Team |
| Corey Brewer | 2007 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2011 NBA Champion; Has averaged 9.5 points per game over the past six seasons |
| Joakim Noah | 2007 | Chicago Bulls | 2013 NBA All-Star; 2011, '13 NBA All-Defensive Team |
| Chris Richard | 2007 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Played 70 games over two seasons and has played overseas |
| Marreese Speights | 2008 | Philadelphia 76ers | Has averaged 7.8 points per game over the past five seasons |
| Chandler Parsons | 2011 | Houston Rockets | 2012 NBA All-Rookie Team |
| Vernon Macklin | 2011 | Detroit Pistons | Played 23 games as a rookie and has also played in the NBDL and overseas |
| Erik Murphy | 2013 | Chicago Bulls | ????? |
