Dejounte Murray anticipated to make his comeback for the Pelicans on Tuesday.
METAIRIE, La. — Dejounte Murray is anticipated to make his season debut on Tuesday as the New Orleans Pelicans face off against the Golden State Warriors.
This will mark Murray’s first game in over 13 months following his rupture of the right Achilles tendon.
New Orleans acquired Murray prior to last season in a trade that involved sending Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., Cody Zeller, and two first-round selections (2025 and 2027) to Atlanta. However, he participated in only 31 games after fracturing his left hand in the season opener and subsequently suffering the Achilles injury on January 31, 2025, against Boston.
The Pelicans have undergone significant changes since Murray last played for them. Over the past year, New Orleans has revamped its front office, traded longtime franchise player Brandon Ingram, and dismissed head coach Willie Green.
The new front office, led by Joe Dumars, has focused more on the team’s younger players, including rookie guard Jeremiah Fears, while the team currently finds itself near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
“There are many excuses for someone to say, ‘No, I’m not playing,’ but I’m the opposite,” Murray stated after practice on Monday. “What I’ve experienced, what I endure, I use all of that to fuel my motivation.
“For me, my passion for the game drives me to be in a position where I can say I want to play not just for my family and the organization, but also for the City of New Orleans. I believe my best basketball is still ahead.”
Pelicans interim coach James Borrego mentioned that it might be too early to “have a discussion” regarding how Murray could align with the front office’s long-term plans for the franchise. While Borrego seemed inclined to utilize Murray on Tuesday night, he refrained from confirming it definitively.
However, Borrego did praise Murray’s dedication to both basketball and the Pelicans.
“It reflects his character — that he genuinely cares,” Borrego remarked. “I’m not suggesting that everyone recovering from this injury would even consider playing right now. This young man wants to play. He desires to be on the court. He wants to compete. He wants to be with his teammates. He wants to win.”
Murray indicated that he maintains a positive relationship with Dumars and his staff, but added, “It doesn’t matter who is in the front office or who the coaching staff is. We need to go out on the court and play hard, and play the right way.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
