So, about that F-bomb: Collin Murray-Boyles explains viral NBA Draft moment
Collin Murray-Boyles quickly set the record straight on his viral NBA Draft moment.
The University of South Carolina standout was taken by the Toronto Raptors with the ninth overall pick of Wednesday’s first round of the draft.
When commissioner Adam Silver announced Murray-Boyles’ name and destination, he stood up, buttoned his suit jacket while shaking his head and appeared to say “F–k” before hugging his mother, father, brother James and girlfriend Chloe Kitts and heading up to the podium.
The moment garnered a variety of reactions on social media, with some saying it appeared he wasn’t happy to be picked by the Raptors.
Murray-Boyles said that definitely wasn’t the case when he met with Toronto media on a Zoom call from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. His on-air reaction was the first question reporters asked him about during the 11-minute interview.
“Just disbelief,” Murray-Boyles said during the call from the Barclays Center. “Toronto was probably my first team that I worked out for. What I said was not a bad thing by any means. Just very thankful for it.
“That was like a surreal moment to hear my name called by this organization that has a good history and has really good players as of right now. It was just a crazy moment. Obviously thankful for the opportunity that they give and ready to take it full on and do whatever they need me to do.”
The Raptors even had a little fun with the moment, posting, “See guys, he’s happy!” with a picture of Murray-Boyles’ smiling on their X/Twitter page.
And he further explained the reaction in an interview with NBA TV, suggesting he actually said, “What the f--k” as his way of soaking in the surreal moment of being an NBA Draft pick.
“WTF, for sure. WTF all the way until my name got called,” he said. “I almost shed a tear. I dreamed of this as a kid.”
Most mock drafts had Murray-Boyles going between pick Nos. 10-20, but none had him going to Toronto. He said he interviewed with the Raptors at the NBA Combine last month and talked about how much he liked the energy from the Raptors’ coaching staff and personnel.
Murray-Boyles went on to say how much he is looking forward to playing in such a diverse place such as Toronto.
“I know how passionate the fans are, how diverse the city of Toronto is. To see that and to be around that environment on a daily basis is something that’s going to only make me a better player overall. That environment is amazing. The city is great,” Murray-Boyles said. “So just being there and it’s going to make me a better player, obviously lift my morale. It’s definitely a lot about just the team and me getting to know the team and trying to really be the best that I can for the team.”
Murray-Boyles was the first Gamecock taken in the first round since Ronaldo Balkman went to the New York Knicks with the 20th overall pick in 2006.
He’s the second-highest-drafted Gamecock in program history, behind only Tom Riker, who went No. 8 in 1972 NBA Draft. He’s also the first lottery pick in school history. The draft lottery began in 1985 and is for the top 14 picks.
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
