'Small part of a big journey': Injured Furphy opens up

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After a remarkable poster dunk went viral last year and put Australian basketballer Johnny Furphy on the map, the NBA rookie was living a life in which two-time All star and Indiana Pacer teammate Tyrese Haliburton was singing his praises.

Yet just 18 months into his professional career, the Melbourne-born shooting guard has already experienced the whirlwind of incredible highs and “humbling” lows that comes with playing on the biggest stage, writes Jessica Robinson from CODE Sports.

He’s nursing a heartbreaking ACL injury that he sustained in February and the rising star says he’s “still navigating” the rehabilitation process.

“It’s learning how to mentally process everything, because it’s kind of hard to have a bigger picture mindset when you’re in the moment,” Furphy, 21, told CODE Sports.

“I think being young, I feel like I’m going to heal pretty well and I’m going to look back on this and see it was just a small part of a big journey. That’s kind of how I’m looking at it.

“The whole experience has been pretty humbling, but I think it’s going to be a positive (learning experience).”

After leaving home for the USA at just 18-years-old to enter the American college system (University of Kansas), Furphy’s entire life has revolved around the NBA dream.

Just a teenager when he made his debut for Indiana at 19, and now with an extended period of time on the sidelines, the Pacer has had to find enjoyment in the road to recovery.

“You have to find that motivation of, like, obviously this (basketball) is what I want to do and that’s been taken away from me,” Furphy said at the NBA House opening night in Melbourne.

For the full story on CODE Sports Basketball, click here.