 After graduating from UC Irvine, Murphy was selected 53rd overall in the third round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics.After being cut during training camp, he began playing overseas in the Italian League; however, he began sustaining knee cartilage damage in an exhibtion game only eight days after his arrival in Europe.He returned home to the United States for surgery, attending several UC Irvine games as a volunteer assistant coach.