Trey Murphy III Is Playing Like an All-Star - But the Pelicans’ Record Keeps Him in the Shadows
Trey Murphy III knows how the All-Star game works. It’s not just about the stats, the highlights, or the individual brilliance - it’s about wins. And right now, the New Orleans Pelicans just aren’t delivering those.
Coming into the season, the Pelicans had playoff hopes. But those ambitions quickly got blindsided by injuries to their biggest names.
Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray - both former All-Stars and franchise cornerstones - have spent most of the 2025-26 campaign watching from the sidelines. That’s left Murphy III to carry a heavy load on a roster built for balance, not solo acts.
And yet, Murphy hasn’t just stepped up - he’s blossomed. Since November 8, he’s been putting up All-Star-caliber numbers: 24.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and nearly two combined steals and blocks per game, all while shooting a scorching 52.9% from the field and nearly 40% from deep. Those are the kind of numbers that usually get a player a flight to All-Star Weekend.
But here’s the problem: the Pelicans are 8-23 over that same stretch. Since Christmas Eve, they’ve gone 2-11. The team is sitting in the Western Conference basement, and Murphy’s standout performances have mostly gone unnoticed outside of Louisiana.
He’s not bitter about it. He gets it.
“At the end of the day, you've got to win games,” Murphy said. “That's just realistic. If you don't win games, you don't get rewarded with personal accolades.”
It’s a grounded take from a player who could easily feel overlooked. Zion has publicly pushed for his teammate to get All-Star consideration, but with the team floundering, there hasn’t been much else in terms of support - on or off the court.
The Pelicans haven’t just been battling injuries. There’s been turbulence behind the scenes too, with whispers of a coaching change and a team still trying to find its identity.
Through it all, Murphy has stayed steady. He admits it took time to find his rhythm, but a 41-point performance against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs on November 8 served as a turning point.
“Probably the Spurs game when I had (41 points). That's when I started feeling like myself again,” he said.
“I think the biggest thing was finding a routine, and now I feel like I've found a routine that works for me. That's staying consistent.”
That consistency has been the one bright spot in an otherwise dim season for New Orleans. Murphy’s development into a reliable offensive force - not just a shooter, but a creator, a rebounder, a defender - is exactly what the Pelicans hoped for when they drafted him. But without wins, that growth remains a footnote instead of a headline.
And that’s the frustrating part. Murphy isn’t chasing stats.
He’s chasing wins. The All-Star conversation is nice, but it’s not the goal.
Still, it’s hard to ignore how well he’s playing - and how little attention it’s getting.
He’s not making noise about it. No complaints.
No social media campaigns. Just a quiet understanding that in the NBA, team success opens the door to individual recognition.
And right now, that door is closed.
Murphy’s rise is real. The numbers are loud.
The respect from teammates is there. But until the Pelicans start stacking wins, the league won’t be listening.
And Murphy knows that better than anyone.
He’ll keep grinding. Keep scoring.
Keep leading. And maybe, just maybe, the wins - and the recognition - will follow.