Trey Murphy just can't catch a break. After missing a good chunk of last season, he is set to miss the start of this season with a hamstring injury.

On behalf of Call of Duty and the looming release of Black Ops 6 on October 25, the fourth-year sharpshooter took some time away from his rehab to chat with HoopsHype. He discussed his shooting slump last season, dealing with injuries, why players in his era think of Kobe Bryant as their GOAT, and more.

How is your recovery coming along with your hamstring injury?

Trey Murphy: It’s going well. I’m on schedule, haven’t had anything deter that. I just been trying to work every single day, get better every day. It’s a tricky injury, but just making sure I get myself the proper rest and recovery.

Yeah, it’ll get re-evaluated in the three-week timeframe, and after that figure out the next steps of the recovery process.

Last season you were dealing with the arthroscopic surgery, and this year it’s the hamstring. How discouraging is it not starting the last two years healthy?

TM: I mean, it sucks. I don’t want to miss anytime. I love playing basketball. I understand injuries are a part of this game. We play a lot of games and we really put our bodies on the line for this game, so as much as you would not want to be injured, you just gotta understand it happens, and you gotta move on and just recover from there so you can get back to where you were or even better.

What are your expectations for yourself this season?

TM: Just continue to contribute to winning. Up my scoring volume, be more of a menace on defense. Continue to rebound the ball at a high level. Overall goals, just to win games. I play basketball to win, I don’t play basketball to stat-chase. I just rather win games, that’s the biggest thing for me.

As a team, you guys lost to the Lakers in the play-in last season. You probably felt like you had a great shot if Zion didn’t get hurt in the fourth quarter. Just going into this season, do you guys talk about any specific goals you guys want to achieve?

TM: Obviously, playoffs is something that we always strive for. Making a run, and not be content with just making the playoffs. Out of my three years, I have been to the playoffs twice, and I only won two games. I want to really get back to that place, and really make a splash in the playoffs.

How different is the game from the regular season compared to the postseason?

TM: Night and day. Just night and day. I remember my first year when I was playing in the playoffs, and I was like, 'Wow, I don’t even know how I’m going to go back to regular season games'. It’s so different, especially the atmosphere, and the overall intensity of the game, it’s all heightened. All eyes are on you. That’s where like the showman part comes out, like it’s time to really compete. Time to really show these people what I can do.

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Zion coming into this season. What do you expect this year from him?

TM: Yeah, absolutely. He’s taken his body work and recovery very seriously. He just looks different from last year. He’s come into this season ready to play, in good shape. It’s just a testament to what he’s done this summer.

You guys have dealt with a lot of injuries over the last couple years. Do you talk to each other about it? How do you guys get through those tough times, just sitting there not being able to compete?

TM: You know, just continue to be a part of the team. We all just talk every day. Just continue to be brothers, that’s the biggest thing. A lot of times we don’t even talk about basketball. There’s a lot of different life things that we talk about as a team or individually. So, that’s the biggest thing, just making sure everyone still feels like they’re part of the team.

You’re a shooter. Mentally, how do you go about shooting slumps? Was there anything in particular when you were younger that helped you deal with long slumps?

TM: One, having a short memory. Try not to dwell too much in the past, dwell too much on what has happened. Other than that, going to the gym just shooting by myself, no rebounders, none of that. It just reminds me of times when I used to be in the front yard, back as a kid, and just shooting, like a relaxing peaceful, tranquil vibe for me.

How about a shooting slump since you been in the league?

TM: Last year, I came back after my knee injury and for like the first week I played really well. I averaged 16, 6, whatever. I was shooting the ball really well. Then I had a setback, a flare-up in my knee, and I had to sit through games. When I came back from that, I was probably bad for about two months. I didn’t shoot the ball well at all. And that was really difficult to go through because I thought I was doing everything right.

I talked with JJ Redick because he is and still is to an extent a friend of mine, but we’re not really friends no more [smile]. But he was just telling me that you can’t get it all back one time, and there will be games where you will go 3 for 8, 5 for 12, whatever. And it’s just like, alright, I’m not gonna get back to 40 percent in one game, but if I take those small wins, and keep building on that. That’s the biggest thing I saw.

And another thing I can refer to is Paul Pierce, he was on a podcast and was talking about how he was 1 for 13 in the first half, and one of his coaches was asking him about how he was feeling, and he said I’m feeling real good, they felt like they were makes, so I’m going to end up making them anyway. I just remember a game we were playing against Washington at home and I think I was 3 for 10, but three of the misses felt really good, so in my head I was 6 for 10. And then after that, I was just like if I feel good after the misses, then I know I’ll be alright. Then I started hitting shots after that.

Shooting is probably 40 percent mechanics, 60 percent mental. So your mentality towards it is the biggest thing ever.

You just talked about JJ Redick. What do you think about him as head coach now with the Lakers?

TM: I feel like he’s going to do a great job, just because of the mind that he has. He understands people. One of the biggest things about coaching is being able to understand your players, know what motivates them, what gets them going, and I feel like JJ will do a pretty solid job. Hopefully he does a solid job for 79 games and not all 82.

I wish the best for him, like I said before, he’s been a long-time friend of mine, and I never would downplay or hate on any friends of mine, even if they were rivals. Obviously, I want them to do well, just not against me.

You’re now going into your fourth year, what’s some of the biggest things that you’ve learned being in the league?

TM: I think the biggest thing is just mindset. Perspective has been the one thing that I have been focused on. Having a good mindset about things. Keeping a good perspective, understanding what I can do to help the team win.

Have you taken any of the younger guys under your wing?

TM: Yeah absolutely. I would say Jordan Hawkins is one of the guys that I have been talking to since his rookie year, since the first day he got there. I just see a really special shooter in him. I feel like he can be one of the best shooters in the league. With me and him, BI, Z driving and kicking, that’s just a match made in heaven.

In your opinion, who’s the GOAT?

TM: My favorite player of all-time is Kobe. I respect Michael Jordan and LeBron obviously from what they done. But for me personally, Kobe has always been that guy for me. I remember watching the 2009 Finals, and I was probably five inches away from the TV. Just watching, me and my dad, he just inspired a lot of guys in order to be themselves, and be great at basketball.

I talked to Brandon Jennings recently, and he said Kobe is his GOAT. Why do you think so many players in your era, and maybe the one right before you feel like Kobe is that guy?

TM: A lot of it has to be with when you were born. Especially for a lot of guys who watched Kobe in the early 2000s through the end of his career. He’s been such a killer. He worked really hard, he didn’t cheat the game, and everything he did was just about business and hard work. You just emulate your work ethic after someone like him, because he got everything that he could out of his potential, so I think that’s why everyone looks up to Kobe.

Any update on a potential contract extension?

TM: Not too much, I can’t share too much. But we’ll be finding out really soon [smile].

Can you talk a bit about your partnership with Call of Duty?

TM: The last two Summer Leagues I went to the Call of Duty suite, and played their game. I been playing their game for a very long time, almost as long as I been playing video games and they’ve showed a lot of love and helped me with different Call of Duty things.

Some of your teammates like Herb, Jordan Harkins, Alvarado are gamers. Do you guys jump on the sticks together often?

TM: Yeah, a lot of times what will happen is when we come back from a road trip, we’ll get on the game, especially if we don’t have practice the next day, we’ll get on the game, be on the game for many hours, probably till the sun comes up. Probably not great for recovery but it is what it is sometimes. You gotta have some time to unwind, we definitely do that over Call of Duty as well.

Have you or the other guys played Black Ops 6 yet?

TM: The other guys have, I haven’t played video games for a little bit, because after practice I haven’t even thought to play video games, I just been sleeping. I haven’t got to Black Ops 6 yet, but everybody keeps telling me it’s a really good game. Like the movement on there is different from last years, and it’s a little better pace to the game.

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Trey Murphy: 'I play basketball to win, I don't play basketball to stat-chase'