Just over a year after tearing his Achilles tendon, New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray is ready to return.
The NBA injury report shows the 29-year-old Murray is available for Tuesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors. The nine-year veteran ruptured his Achilles tendon on Jan. 31, 2025, during a non-contact game against the Boston Celtics in which he rushed for the ball and then immediately collapsed.
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Murray, who was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks for Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr. and two first-round picks, is in his first season in New Orleans. He also missed 17 games earlier this season with a broken hand, limiting his total appearances to 31 games.
The Pelicans are 16-42 this season, ranking second to last in the Western Conference (fourth to last in the NBA). With 24 games left, some may question Murray’s return. But tanking doesn’t do much for the Pelicans after trading this year’s first-round pick to the Hawks and selecting Derek Quinn.
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Murray also hopes to see some action after being out for more than a year.
“I’m here, I love New Orleans, I love the people here. That’s why I’m back,” Murray told the Pelicans Film Room on Monday.
“I’m not one of those guys who’s like, ‘I get paid, I get an extra 6-7 months, or our team is 14th in the West,'” he added. “There are plenty of excuses for fools to say ‘No, I’m not going to play.'” I’m the opposite. “
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Murray may be limited in playing time during his return. Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego did not specify how many games Murray might play but praised him for wanting to play.
“It speaks to his character, that he cares,” Borrego said, via The Associated Press. “I’m not saying that everybody who comes back from this injury is going to play now. This kid wants to play. He wants to be on the field. He wants to compete. He wants to be out there with his teammates. He wants to win.”
In his eight NBA seasons, Murray averaged 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game with the San Antonio Spurs, Hawks and Pelicans. He missed the entire 2018-19 season due to a torn ACL during the preseason.