Dejounte Murray makes his return with the Pelicans after 13 months away
Dejounte Murray is preparing to return to NBA courts. The 29-year-old guard for the New Orleans Pelicans will make his return Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors, marking his first appearance in over 13 months since tearing his right Achilles tendon.
A return motivated by love of the game
The former All-Star confirmed Monday his availability for the game against the Warriors. « Yes, Sir, we’re going to do it, » he told reporters when asked if he would play Tuesday. A determination that reflects his fighting spirit despite a complicated team situation.
Dejounte Murray (Achilles) expects to make season debut Tuesday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) February 23, 2026
Murray doesn’t hide his deep motivation: « There are plenty of excuses for a guy to say: ‘No, I’m not playing.’ But me, it’s the complete opposite. Everything I’ve been through, everything I’m still going through, I use it to fuel the fire in me. I love this game, and I’ve put myself in a position where I can say I want to get on the court and play, not just for my family and my organization, but also for the city of New Orleans. I feel like the best of my basketball is still ahead of me. »
The player suffered this injury on January 31, 2025 during a game against Boston, on a non-contact play. This Achilles tendon tear occurred after a first part of the season already disrupted by a fracture of his left hand during the first game of the 2024-2025 campaign.
A franchise in rebuilding mode
The Pelicans that Murray returns to are very different from the ones he left. The organization made a complete change in basketball operations, replacing David Griffin with Joe Dumars. The team also traded Brandon Ingram and fired coach Willie Green, replaced by James Borrego.
With a record of 15-41, the Pelicans occupy 14th place in the Western Conference. Despite this disappointing ranking, Murray refuses to give up: « I don’t care about the money. I don’t care about the celebrity, the lifestyle. I love this game, and I’m going to get everything I can out of it until it’s over. »
« I’m not one of them guys that could be like, ‘I’m paid, I could get an extra 6-7 months…’ There’s a lot of excuses for a chump to be like ‘Nah, I ain’t playing.’ And I’m the opposite of that… I want to represent for New Orleans. »
—Dejounte Murray
pic.twitter.com/0BI2wJ7Akk— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 23, 2026
Interim coach James Borrego praises his player’s commitment: « It says a lot about his character — it shows he cares. I’m not saying everyone, coming back from this injury, would necessarily play right now. This kid wants to play. He wants to be on the court. He wants to compete. He wants to be there with his teammates. He wants to win. »
Murray will have to work alongside the emergence of Jeremiah Fears, a rookie selected 7th overall in the 2025 draft, who is averaging 13.2 points per game. The veteran shows support for his young teammate: « He’s the future; he’s going to be huge. My role is to continue being a professional, work on my game and show him what it looks like. »
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