It would have been easy for Dejounte Murray to sit out all of last season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, but the Pelicans guard explains in an interview with Cyro Asseo of HoopsHype why it was important for him to return to action.
More than a year elapsed from the time Murray suffered the injury on January 31, 2025, until his return on February 24 of this year. New Orleans was lingering near the bottom of the West at the time, but even a slim chance of reaching the play-in tournament was enough to motivate Murray to get back on the court.
He immediately moved back into the starting lineup and put together a decent showing in 14 games, averaging 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 27.8 minutes per night with .484/.306/.867 shooting numbers.
“Even coming back last year to play 14 games, it was really just like, now, we were 14th in the West, so we really didn’t have anything to play for, but it’s like we could reach 10 to get in the play-in, so it gave me something to play for,” Murray said. “So that’s my reason for coming back. Or I would have just sat out and got ready for this year. But it was like, nah, I wanted to go. I felt ready, obviously. Preparation is key; preparation is everything. And I worked my tail off to even be in a position to play. So I was just excited to go out to not only show my team and the people that support me, my family, but just anybody that you can fall and get back up … as long as you got the mental part down pat. It’s not easy, but you can do it. Anything’s possible.”
The torn Achilles was the second major injury for Murray, who tore his ACL during the 2018 preseason. Comparing them, he considers the rehabilitation process from the Achilles injury to be much more difficult. He describes being unable to do any calf raises two months into recovery and feeling like his career might be over.
“And again, it’s all mental, right? That’s just the process,” he said. “Once you read up on the Achilles and you learn about the injury and why the injury happens and all these different things, it’s like the only thing is to learn and enjoy your process and go through your process. My process was different from a bunch of guys, just like theirs was different from mine. And it’s just like, that’s for sure the hardest one, because I was hopping everywhere; I’m on a scooter, you can’t walk. But at the end of the day, I attacked everything like no other. And I’ll continue to do that.”
One of the oldest players on the Pelicans’ roster at 29, Murray discusses what it’s like to serve as a mentor to teammates such as Zion Williamson, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. He said it’s important for players not to feel like they’ve “made it” once they reach the NBA and to keep working to get better.
Murray, a former All-Star, also addresses the perceived need to rebuild his reputation as one of the top guards in the league.
“Nobody should impact how your day goes or dictate what you’re gonna be or anything,” he said. “For me, it ain’t never about proving nobody wrong. It’s really just proving myself right. So, of course, I’m human. I got hurt; I tore my Achilles. Like, I think it should be celebrated how hard we work to get back on our feet. When I was watching Damian Lillard and Tyrese (Haliburton) and Jayson Tatum‘s process, as well as mine, it’s like, nah, we’re human. But that’s the thing that comes with being a pro, being in the NBA. It’s like you don’t get looked at as a human. You’re above a human, which is crazy.
“But now it’s really just proving myself right. And like I said, I’m healthy, I’m excited, and I will prove myself right, and the world would get to see a better version of the person you’re talking about. For sure.”