New Orleans Pelicans Guard Dejounte Murray Set To Make Season Debut Tomorrow Against Golden State Warriors
It’s been over a year since we’ve seen Dejounte Murray lace up his sneakers for an NBA game, but that drought ends Tuesday night. The New Orleans Pelicans point guard is finally ready to take the floor against the Golden State Warriors, marking his return after a brutal Achilles tear that sidelined him for more than 13 months.
You have to feel for the guy. One minute you’re out there competing at the highest level, the next you’re watching from the sidelines, wondering if you’ll ever be the same player again. But if Monday’s practice session told us anything, it’s that Murray is more than ready to get back in the mix.
“I feel great mentally, physically, and spiritually,” Murray said to reporters. “I’m just in a really great place. One of the greatest places I could be in in a long time, on and off the floor.”
The Road Back From Rock Bottom
Let’s rewind to January 2025. Murray was just starting to find his groove with the Pelicans after arriving via trade from the Atlanta Hawks. Then came that game against Boston—the one every athlete dreads. A ruptured Achilles tendon. Season over. Career potentially in jeopardy.
The injury came at the worst possible time. Murray had only suited up for 31 games that season, partly because he’d already dealt with a fractured left hand that cost him 17 contests right out of the gate. Talk about bad luck. When he was healthy, though, he showed exactly why New Orleans wanted him so badly. He averaged 17.5 points and 7.4 assists per game, orchestrating the offense and providing the veteran leadership this young Pelicans squad desperately needed.
His best performance? A near triple-double against Utah where he dropped 26 points, dished out 11 assists, and grabbed 9 rebounds. That’s the Murray the Pelicans have been missing.
What Murray Brings To This Pelicans Team
The timing couldn’t be better for New Orleans. This team has been searching for consistency all season, and getting Murray back gives them a legitimate floor general who can run the offense and take some pressure off their other playmakers.
Interim Head Coach James Borrego kept it simple when asked about the return: “We are just excited to have him back.” Can you blame him? The Pelicans have been piecing things together without one of their most important acquisitions, and now they finally get to see what this roster looks like at something closer to full strength.
Now, let’s pump the brakes a little. Murray probably won’t start right away—guys like Saddiq Bey or Herbert Jones have been holding down the fort and deserve their spots. Plus, you don’t just throw a guy back into 35 minutes a night after he’s been out for over a calendar year. Expect a significant minutes restriction as Murray shakes off the rust and builds his conditioning back up.
The Mental Game Matters Just As Much
Here’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough: the mental side of coming back from a devastating injury like this. An Achilles rupture isn’t just physically grueling—it messes with your head. Every time you push off, every time you make a cut, there’s that little voice asking if everything’s still solid down there.
But Murray sounds like he’s conquered those demons. The fact that he emphasized feeling great “spiritually, mentally, and physically” in that order tells you everything you need to know. He’s done the work, not just in the training room but upstairs too. “I’m just excited to go get a win,” Murray said Monday. “That’s the only thing that matters to me.”
What to Watch For Tuesday Night
When Murray checks in against the Warriors, keep an eye on a few things. First, his lateral movement on defense—that’s usually the toughest thing to get back after an Achilles injury. Second, his confidence attacking the basket. Is he hesitating? Or is he going full speed ahead like the pre-injury Murray?
The Pelicans will need some of that old Murray magic if they want to make noise in what’s shaping up to be a brutal Western Conference playoff race. Getting him back gives them another genuine playmaker and someone who’s been through the wars in big moments.
