The plan has come together, and the wait is finally over. The New Orleans Pelicans can breathe a sigh of relief as Dejounte Murray made his much-anticipated return. Over 13 months since rupturing his right Achilles tendon, Murray stepped back onto the court, contributing 13 points, three assists, and two rebounds in 25 minutes during a 113-109 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
For Murray, this comeback was about more than just physical healing. It was about reconnecting with a team that stood by him during the toughest times of his recovery journey.
“Absolutely. For me, it was about taking care of my mental health,” Murray shared.
“I wanted my body to be ready to play. Big shout out to my team in LA.
The Pelicans stayed connected, checking on me about seven times to ensure everything was on track. Joe Dumars and I talked a lot, and the plan we crafted came together perfectly.
That’s why I was able to play today.”
This commitment from the Pelicans, traveling frequently to Los Angeles, marked a significant turnaround for a franchise Murray had criticized for lack of support during his initial injury-ridden season. The relationship began to heal when Dumars took over as head of basketball operations.
The new leadership engaged in direct conversations with Murray, addressing his concerns and making necessary changes based on his feedback.
“They did great, and all credit goes to the doctors,” Murray explained. “The staff came together with our medical team, and we communicated from the morning all the way through the game.
Like I said, the win is what matters. We got it, and now we’re ready to build from here.”
Murray's conditioning looked solid in his first game back, even if his shooting wasn’t quite there. He was less concerned with the stats and more focused on how his body responded.
“The buckets will come,” Murray shrugged. “I felt active, good with lateral movements, running up and down. My condition was good, which is a testament to my hard work and dedication.”
The Pelicans secured a win in Murray’s debut, and the 29-year-old emphasized that the result was the main focus as Borrego's rebuilding squad aims to gain momentum heading into the offseason. The former All-Star, who posted impressive numbers during his 2022 season with the San Antonio Spurs, now has less than two dozen games to prove he can still lead a new era of basketball in New Orleans.