Dejounte Murray’s latest setback has turned Bennedict Mathurin’s offseason assignment into something much bigger.
The New Orleans Pelicans were already asking the former lottery pick to reshape parts of his game so he could fit alongside Zion Williamson. That was the plan: keep the scoring edge, but add enough versatility to make the lineup work. Now, with Murray sidelined by a toe contusion, Mathurin may have to take on even more before the regular season even starts.
What had started as a chance to prove he can be a dependable scoring threat has quickly grown into a broader workload. If Murray is out, Mathurin could be pushed into extra ball-handling and playmaking responsibilities, while also being asked to take on opposing guards more often on defense. That’s a far cry from a role centered mainly on attacking defenses and getting buckets.
Still, there’s a reason the Pelicans believe in the 24-year-old reclamation project. Mosley sees a player who seems more focused on building something that lasts than on padding his own numbers.
Mathurin has made it clear where his priorities are.
“When you're playing in the playoffs, you're playing when some other guys are not playing anymore, it makes you feel better about yourself and about the team,” Mathurin said. “For me, it’s not an individual goal.
My individual goal is just to be healthy, you know what I’m saying? Just to play 82 games, going out there and giving my all every single game.”
The Pelicans wanted Mathurin to be one of the season’s bright spots. Murray’s injury may have changed that from a nice outcome into a requirement. Whether he turns the added pressure into a breakout or runs into the limits of his game will come down to how fast he adjusts to a role that asks for more than scoring.
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