Photo: Tom Reel /San Antonio Express-News

It’s roughly 45 minutes after Spurs pulled off arguably their best win of the season, overcoming a 23-point deficit to beat the All-Star loaded Oklahoma City Thunder for the first time this season.

Outside of the celebratory locker room, in a hallway a few feet away from the entrance, Dejounte Murray approached, ready to talk. It was a little over a month removed from his 16-point, 14-rebound and six-assist performance in a win over the Toronto Raptors. A few games later, Gregg Popovich inserted Patty Mills into the lineup as the starting point guard.

Murray returned to a reserve role, but he’s the first to point out the work will not cease. The goal to be great is still in progress. Murray’s desire to learn has intensified. He knows there will be roadblocks, but vows it will only make him a stronger player. A better one, too.

“I want every challenge,” Murray says. “I know I’m going to fall, but it’s how you get back up, and bounce back. I know to stay focused and I’m going to bounce back from whatever.”

In this week’s Off Topic, Murray discusses his season so far, why he’s not thinking about the outcome against the Raptors, learning to be a professional, avoiding the spotlight, and the toughest part about being a young point guard in today’s NBA.

You were in the starting lineup, now back in a reserve role. Is this the peaks and valleys of a young player in his second season?

That’s just how it is. (Gregg Popovich) is the coach and I’m the player. So, I just have to control what I control, which is learning every day and working on my game. That’s it. Like I always say, control what you can control. You’re not the coach. You don’t dictate if you’re going to play this many minutes or you’re going to start or come off the bench. So, I just control what I control.

That Raptors game, it’s over now, but do you think about how you performed? I feel that was the game where people said, this is how good he can be. This is what we expect for years to come.

Yeah, but I don’t look back at any game. I look at the new game that we have to play. Whether I have a bad game or a good game, the goal is to win at the end of the day. I know what I can be in this league one day because of my work ethic. I know how much I leave the outside stuff like parties and everything else out of the way. I know I want to be great and put myself in the best position. So, I just learn. I’m learning from all these guys. The coaches, the players. I’m just trying to be on time, be a pro, workout and get better every day.

When you say be a pro, have you figured out what that means?

Yeah. Being early. Don’t be late. Taking everything in. If the coach is yelling, not taking it as he’s on me or something like that. I have a long way to go, but I think I’m going in the right direction of learning how to be a pro on and off the floor.

This early in the season, after more than 15 games, where are you right now?

I think I’m in a great place from last year. I feel like I’m getting better every day. You can’t say you see me (repeating) what I was doing — making mistakes last year — and making the same mistakes this year. That’s the thing. You have to get better every day, no matter what. Don’t leave the gym unless you got better. Don’t leave film unless you know you’ve learned more and know you got better.

I know your confidence is high, but has anyone been assisting you behind the scenes during this season, helping with that transition of you becoming a better player?

Coach Pop. He’s on me. He’s telling me he is going to be riding me and I want that. I want that challenge. I want to be great. I’m looking at the bigger picture. I take it day by day. But Kawhi (Leonard), LaMarcus (Aldridge), they’re on me. They just tell me to keep doing your work and keep learning. You’ll be fine.

The first time we talked, you said you wanted Popovich to be on you. After seeing what that means, is that still the mindset?

Yes. That’s where I want to go. I know where I want to go playing this game. I want every challenge to get to the top.

You seem really focused. You’re staying out of the spotlight, not too much media, it’s all basketball.

That’s it. Like I said, where I come from, it’s rare. I want to do this. I want to be great. I’m going to keep saying it over and over. I’m focused. I’m locked in. When I say that, I mean that I’m locked in. This is what I want to do.

Is Popovich still telling you to study Chris Paul or have you moved on to another point guard?

Of course. (Russell) Westbrook, Chris Paul, LeBron (James), Kawhi, everybody’s game. I’m a basketball fanatic. I love it. That’s all I do. I watch all those guys.

Jason Kidd was recently asked about you and said you’ll be fine, that you’re in a good position and you will go through that process of learning what it takes to be a great point guard in this league. What’s the toughest thing, as a point guard, to learn at your age?

Criticism. Like I said, being yelled at. I got yelled at a lot from coach Pop, but he knows that I can take it. He knows that I understand that it’s better for me. Being a point guard is rough, especially in this league. (Defending) Russell Westbrook and then you might have a Kyle Lowry the next day. Chris Paul the next night. Point guard is the hardest position to play at this level, but with my work ethic, my size, how much I’m thirsty to learn, I feel like I can be at the top with those guys one day.

What was going through your mind when you guarded OKC’s Westbrook, the most dynamic point guard in the NBA and reigning MVP?

I mean, I’m a fan of the game at the end of the day, but in between the lines all that stuff is out the window because he doesn’t care that I’m a fan. He doesn’t care that I’m 21. So, I’m just out there trying to play hard and do as much as I can to stay on the floor to help my team win.

Is there a particular stat that you’re looking to increase or decrease by the end of this season?

I mean, here you really can’t say I want to average points or average assists or this many rebounds or steals. You just have to go out and play hard every day, every game. Coach is going to put you in positions. Playing for this team, the ball moves. There is no ball holding. So, the ball is moving, you’re going to get shots. He gives me the (green light) in transition. He tells me to go, just be smart. I’m just trying to figure out myself as the days go, as the games go, and just keep learning. I know the sky is the limit if I just keep doing that.

Twitter: JabariJYoung