As the New Orleans Pelicans hit a pivotal point in their season, Zion Williamson's eyes light up when talking about Dejounte Murray's return. The All-Star didn't need a deep dive into stats to describe Murray's impact; he summed it up in one word: "Intensity."
Fans in the Smoothie King Center are feeling it too.
Williamson elaborated, “The intensity he's brought to both games and practices has been off the charts. It's been great for this team. Long story short, his intensity has done numbers for us.”
And the stats agree. In Murray's first 10 games back, he’s averaging 18.7 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game, shooting 52.7% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc.
With Murray in the starting lineup, New Orleans is 5-5, but they've gone 9-5 overall since his return. This stretch has reignited hope for a team that’s been searching for consistency.
Head coach James Borrego attributes much of this transformation to Murray’s influence on defense.
“We're contesting more shots, there's more physicality, and we have more size on the floor,” Borrego noted. “We’ve put bigger, more athletic size out there. We’re more switchable and taking away the easy stuff.”
Borrego pointed to successful teams around the league, highlighting that sustainable improvement often begins with defense.
“That’s what we emphasized around the All-Star break,” Borrego shared. “When you look at teams that have made significant jumps, like Detroit, Phoenix, Houston, Boston, they’ve done it through their defense. Those top teams in the Western Conference are moving the needle with their defense.”
With Murray orchestrating the offense, the Pelicans have embraced this defensive mindset. His control of the game’s pace and on-ball pressure has led to more contested possessions and fewer easy scores for opponents. And if Williamson’s assessment is any indication, the change is as much about attitude as it is about strategy.
Intensity, as it turns out, is contagious.