Murphy was suspended by the Trail Blazers before the 1988–89 season for not maintaining a proper weight. Murphy had been suspended the prior season for the same reason. Portland waived Murphy in December 1988 after he spent more than a month on the suspended list. Through his agent, Murphy accused the Trail Blazers of waiving him while he was recovering from an injury, which was against NBA rules. Portland settled the dispute with Murphy, who never played in the NBA subsequently. In 1991, he attempted a comeback and played one season in the United States Basketball League.
Murphy was born on July 29, 1964 in Dover, Delaware. He attended Oviedo High School in Oviedo, Florida where he played basketball. During his freshman season, Murphy was promoted to the varsity basketball team after his brother, Bernard Murphy, was suspended from the team for rules violations. Ronnie Murphy's senior season at Oviedo was cut short when he was ruled ineligible to play because of two incomplete grades. Those grades were later removed from Murphy's records, which allowed him to meet the requirements for his athletic scholarship to Jacksonville University. His high school coach Dale Phillips told The Orlando Sentinel, "[Ronnie Murphy] is the greatest player I'll ever coach. [...] I just wish I had done a better job on him as far as his classroom work was concerned. I feel as if I may have let him down." Greg Robinson, the head coach of Lake Howell High School, told the Sentinel, "[Murphy] is the best I've ever seen in Central Florida."
Murphy joined the Jacksonville Dolphins men's basketball team during the 1983–84 season. He was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year at the conclusion of the season. During his first season, Murphy played and started in 26 games and averaged 17.9 points per game with 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals.

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