Dejounte Murray Returns From Achilles Injury With Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans cleared Dejounte Murray for an NBA game for the first time in nearly 13 months, listing the guard as available against the visiting Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Murray returns from a ruptured Achilles suffered on 31 January 2025, re-joining a team sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference.

Murray, 29, plays his first competitive minutes since that injury, which occurred on a non-contact sequence as Murray chased his own missed shot and fell while lunging for the loose ball. Speaking after practice on Monday, Murray reflected on the recovery process and mental drive that carried the guard back to the court.

Murray Returns for Pelicans After Achilles

The Pelicans enter Tuesday at 16-42, 14th in the Western Conference and outside the play-off chase, a situation that might tempt some players to remain sidelined while still receiving their salary. Murray rejected that idea, explaining the mindset guiding the Dejounte Murray return for the New Orleans Pelicans in this NBA game. "There's a lot of excuses for a chump to be like, 'Nah. I aint playing,'And I'm the opposite of that," Murray said.

Before the Achilles injury, Murray delivered strong all-round production in the guard’s first season with New Orleans after a July 2024 trade from the Atlanta Hawks. Across 31 games, Murray averaged 14.5 points, 7.4 assists, 6.5 rebounds and a career-best 2.03 steals, reflecting the two-way impact the Pelicans hope to regain.

Season / Team	Games	Points	Assists	Rebounds	Steals
2024-25 Pelicans	31	14.5	7.4	6.5	2.03
Pelicans record 2025-26	58	16-42 overall, 14th in Western Conference

An All-Star with the San Antonio Spurs in 2021-22, Murray has already overcome a major setback, having missed the entire 2018-19 campaign because of a serious right knee injury. That earlier absence shaped how the guard handled rehabilitation for this Dejounte Murray return with the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of the latest NBA game.

Murray explained that personal challenges help drive the competitive edge behind this comeback. "What Ive been through, what I go through, I use that all to fuel the fire," Murray said. The guard then underlined personal priorities. "I dont care about the money. I dont care about the fame, the lifestyle," Murray said. "I love this game and I'm going to get everything I can out of this game until its over."

The Pelicans remain far from the play-off positions, yet the Dejounte Murray return adds an important piece for the New Orleans Pelicans in Tuesday’s NBA game and beyond. New Orleans gain a proven playmaker and defender, while Murray resumes a career that has already featured an All-Star selection and multiple comebacks from serious injuries.