Photo: Darren Abate /AP Photo

DALLAS — Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd knows a thing or two about what it takes to excel as an NBA point guard.

Kidd, a 10-time All-Star during his 19-season career who ranks No. 2 all-time in assists, also knows this: The up-and-down sophomore season Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray has experienced to date shouldn’t dissuade anybody from believing he’s destined for a long, fruitful career.

“He will be fine,” Kidd said. “He’s a talented young man.”

Kidd made those comments before the Bucks’ tripped up the Spurs 94-87 last Friday night, a game in which Murray went scoreless and finished with one assist in just nine minutes.

One night later, the Spurs’ 2016 first-round draft pick bounced back in the 133-94 blowout of Chicago, finishing with a season-high 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, five assists, four rebounds and one block in 25 minutes.

The performance underscored Murray’s determination to prove losing his starting job to Patty Mills won’t keep him down.

“He’s a very motivated person, and he takes everything personally — in a good way,” Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge said Monday. “He’s going to prove he is going to get better. Last game, he played with more poise and tried to get guys open and also tried to find his shots. He was good.”

Afterward, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich included Murray in a group of young players oozing with confidence who have provided an abundance of energy off the bench. It’s a timely contribution while the Spurs have been without several injured players, including All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard and point guard Tony Parker.

“They have kept us above water,” Popovich said. “Dejounte and Bryn (Forbes) and Brandon (Paul) have been wonderful in that regard.”

Murray will get a chance to build on what he did against the Bulls when the Spurs (8-5) face the Mavericks (2-12) on Tuesday night in the first of a back-to-back road trip that will be capped with their second game against Minnesota this season.

The Dallas game will mark Murray’s seventh in a row coming off the bench after he started the first seven.

Popovich moved Mills into the starting lineup after Murray slumped offensively during a four-game road trip that saw the Spurs go 1-3.

In that span, the 21-year-old Seattle native averaged 5.2 points on 26.4 percent shooting (9 of 34).

Murray continues to struggle at times with his shooting (41.6 percent for the season), but that hasn’t stopped him from making good use of his 6-foot-5 height and 7-foot wingspan to provide strong defense and rebounding.

Bottom line, he’s going through growing pains expected of a young player attempting to master a very challenging position.

“There are a lot of responsibilities,” Kidd said of playing point guard in the NBA. “You’ve got to take care of the guys on the floor and understand time and score, understand where and who has gotten the shots of late.

“But all in due time. He’s in a good system to learn from other guys that have been in that position.”

One of those “other guys” is Mills, who is expected to continue to start until Parker returns from rehabbing his surgically repaired left quadriceps tendon.

“He’s handling it well,” Mills said of Murray going from starter to reserve. “He’s another guy who is eager to learn. It’s not a sprint, it’s longer. One of the hardest things is to learn on the fly.”

Indeed, Mills believes Murray can learn a lot from watching from the bench.

“The benefit of coming off the bench is you get to see how the game is being played, how the other team is defending certain situations, how the game is being refereed,” Mills said.

Murray hasn’t been available for interviews since moving to the bench, but he made it clear before the season started he would willingly accept whatever role Popovich gave him.

“Coach runs the minutes,” Murray said. “Whatever he needs me to do, whether it’s five minutes or zero minutes or 20, I’m willing to help this team and bring my energy.”

And that “energy” includes inspired the aforementioned work on the defensive end and the boards.

For the season, Murray is averaging 8.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Per 36 minutes, it comes out to 13.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

“To have a guy rebound like he does is pretty special,” Popovich said. “And his focus is defense. He’s not a shooter at this point, but he’s smart enough to concentrate on what he can do well, and that’s play D and rebound.

“You don’t have to be a real skilled player to do that. That’s all just in the heart and between the ears and making the decision you are going to do it. Luckily, he is coachable in that sense and is willing to accept that role. He’s got a good upside.”

No less an authority than Kidd would agree.

torsborn@express-news.net

Twitter: @tom_orsborn