By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Andy Murray owns some of the softest hands in tennis, but how does his feel for the ball and flair for shot making translate to the hardwood?
The world No. 2 and devoted Miami Heat fan put his basketball skills to the test playing one-on-one with two-time NBA all star Luol Deng in this new video for Standard Life Investment Mastering Your Dreams campaign starring Murray.
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In "When Andy Met Luol Deng", the pair share their sporting dreams during a Miami shoot around, discovering they also share a mutual passion.
Deng, who was born in Sudan but grew up in the UK, and Murray were both members of the British Olympic team that competed in the 2012 London Games.
A former Miami Heat season ticket holder, Murray is an avid NBA fan, who tells Deng he aims for the front of the rim on his jump shot.
"Where does Steph Curry look?" Murray asks about sharp-shooting Warriors' all star whose boundless range seemingly extends to the parking lot outside the arena.
"He doesn't even look, he just throws it," a laughing Deng replies.
The ATP and NBA stars bonded over their love of the beautiful game: Both are Arsenal FC fans.
A love of football left the young Deng with a profound prayer: Stop growing.
"I had days where I was just praying to stop growing just so I could play football," Deng tells Murray. "But I wouldn't stop growing. So I said you know what? Basketball it is."
Murray realized a childhood dream leading Great Britain to its first Davis Cup championship in 79 years last fall and tells Deng he's driven to achieve another dream.
"I'd like to get to world No. 1," Murray says. "I've been ranked No. 2 for a couple of years so it would be nice to get to No. 1 in the world."
Despite the initial air ball, it looks like Murray, who has a hoop at his house, has been working on his jump shot a bit.
Last summer, the two-time Grand Slam champion took the NBA Half Court Challenge: Five shots from half court.
Showing some solid ball-handling skills, Murray says he didn't play basketball growing up, but grew to love the game after spending more time in Miami.
In tennis and basketball, timing is essential. The Scot hit the sporting lottery when he bought his season ticket the day before the Heat announced it had signed Lebron James.
Though Murray came agonizingly close on a couple of shots, he didn't hit the mark on the half court challenge. Murray ended the challenge issuing one of his own. He called out Serena Williams to take her best shot.