Photo: Eric Gay / Associated Press

The calls would come at any hour and they never failed to motivate.

For that, Dejounte Murray is grateful he had DeMar DeRozan pushing him while he rehabbed his surgically repaired right knee.

“We built a relationship over the summer,” Murray said. “He would FaceTime me at 12 at night … checking on where I am at.”

In many instances, DeRozan would call while working out at his alma mater, Southern Cal, in Los Angeles. For the 23-year-old Murray, it was eye-opening.

“It’s just impressive to see a dude with the years he has in his career still working like he is trying to make it,” Murray said of the 30-year-old, four-time All-Star. “It’s good, good for everyone around.”

In what has been a frustrating season for the franchise, DeRozan’s professionalism has indeed stood out, making him a role model for teammates young and old.

“He’s a high-character guy, a quality person,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “He cares about people. He’s a great teammate and he has been around long enough to know that you don’t get up or down based on wins or loses. You just continue to try to do your job the best you can.”

Even during the season’s lowest points, DeRozan has never faltered. In addition to leading the Spurs in minutes (34.2), scoring (21.4 points) and assists (4.8) without missing a game, he’s continued to fulfill his obligations off the court in terms of doing community service and meeting with the media in good times and bad.

“On the court, he is competing,” guard Derrick White said. “He doesn’t care about his numbers. He just wants to win. That’s always important. Off the court, he is just one of the guys, always hanging around, joking.

“He is the ultimate professional.”

After a recent game, DeRozan talked about his approach and how it has helped the team stay united during a tough start to the season that included an eight-game losing streak.

“You care about your craft, you care about what you do,” he said. “You got to approach it like that every single day. Just because you walk into the office and see chaos, doesn’t mean you have to half-ass. As long as you stay with your hard work, it’s going to pay off.”

In addition to trying to avoid his first losing season since 2012-13, his fourth season in the league, and extend the Spurs’ playoff streak to an NBA-record 23 seasons, DeRozan is facing an uncertain future. He is signed through next season, with a $27.7 million player option for 2020-21. His agent and the Spurs have been discussing an extension, but it was reported early in the season the parties are “far apart” on the terms.

But throughout it all — the contract talks, the losing, trade rumors and the frustration with officiating that has led to him being whistled for a team-high three technical fouls — DeRozan keeps plugging along.

“No matter how bad something is, you can’t hold your head,” he said. ”I’ve been in the league 11 years now. I’ve been through the ups and downs. You have to fight through when things aren’t going your way.”

For the 11 players on the Spurs roster 26 years old or younger, DeRozan has served as a wonderful role model.

“Any chance you get to be around someone who has had a great career like DeMar, it’s beneficial,” White, 25, said. “Just watching the way he handles things day to day throughout the season is beneficial. I am thankful to have him as a teammate. I’ve learned a lot from him.”

The respect DeRozan’s teammates have for him also stems from how he came to terms with the July 2018 blockbuster Kawhi Leonard trade that forced him to leave his beloved Toronto.

“We’ve always said it wasn’t going to be easy for him to come here, and he’s taken the high road on many different occasions and has worked hard to make himself fit in,” guard Patty Mills said. “The point is he’s a professional that can learn on the fly and adapt on the fly, which is not easy to do.”

Mills first got to know DeRozan when they worked out together in preparation for the 2009 NBA Draft.

“I saw it very early on,” Mills said of DeRozan’s positive demeanor and work ethic.

As the longest-tenured current Spur, Mills is determined to teach the team’s younger players about the franchise’s culture. He sees DeRozan as an ally in that endeavor.

“Professional, professional,” Mills said of DeRozan. “On time to whatever it is, meetings, planes. The season is a grind as everyone knows, but he is one of those guys who will continue to show up and work hard and be ready when his number is called, which is a lot. Going back to what it takes to be a professional athlete, he is up there.”

The affection DeRozan’s teammates have for him was evident after he came up big late last week’s 135-133 win over Houston in double overtime. In addition to hitting 3 of 4 free throws in the final 30 seconds of the second extra session, DeRozan also drew a game-sealing charge against James Harden with 0.8 seconds left.

With DeRozan flat on his back after the play, Mills and center Jakob Poeltl rushed over to express their appreciation by playfully punching and slapping at his body.

It was a rare defensive gem for the defensively challenged DeRozan.

“Everyone knows he is a gamer who lives for those big moments and never shies away from making big shots,” Mills said. “The most impressive thing about this moment was it was done on the defensive end. And the reaction he got from all of his teammates was genuine.”

What’s also genuine is DeRozan’s commitment to helping others with mental health issues. Before a game last month, he gladly interrupted his pre-game ritual to meet with a group of high school students brought to the AT&T Center by Communities in Schools-San Antonio to talk to them about how he’s dealt with depression.

“One student asked him how do you find the courage or the ability to let someone know what is going on, and he basically just said, ‘You just have to do it. Through my experience, you just have to be able to talk to people about what you are going through,’” said Monica Silva, director of field programs and operations for Communities in Schools-San Antonio. “That had a great impact on the students.”

Jessica Hannah, community engagement manager for Communities in Schools-San Antonio, said DeRozan speaking to the students before a game underscores how important it is to him to help others with their mental health concerns.

“Our students really did walk away feeling inspired and supported,” Hannah said.

For Popovich, the helping hand DeRozan offered the students was another sign of his professionalism.

“His life is prioritized,” the coach said. “He understands what is expected both on and off the court. He is a class act.”

torsborn@express-news.net

Twitter: @tom_orsborn