New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) reacts after hitting a three pointer against the Utah Jazz during the second half of the basketball game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Staff Photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune)
STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray tore his Achilles last season on the final day of January,
How close is Murray to returning?
Will he return at all this season?
Interim coach James Borrego gave an update on Murray Sunday prior to the Pelicans’ road game against the Miami Heat.
“He’s making a lot of progress,” Borrego said, “We hope to get him back in our building here soon. He’s doing a lot of work getting ready to get back here. I say in the next month we’ll have a little bit more clarity on where he’s at. But he’s made a lot of progress. Significant progress.”
Murray played in 31 games for the Pelicans’ last season, his first with the team after being acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. He fractured his left hand in the season opener and missed the next 17 games. He played in 30 more before the season-ending injury against the Boston Celtics in the Smoothie King Center.
He averaged 17.5 points and 7. 4 assists in his 31 games.
Murray last spoke to the media in September at the team’s media day.
“It’s been great,” Murray said when asked about his rehab. “Just taking it one day at a time. Making sure the mental is there and obviously all the physical things and just attacking it like no other. You just have to make sure the body and mind are on the same page.”
Borrego was asked if he anticipates Murray playing this season.
“I can’t say for sure,” Borrego said. “I can’t go there. We just don’t know until we see him live on the court. That would be the goal, but I can’t say for sure. We’ll just have to see for sure once he’s back in our building and once we get our eyes on him. And once he gets on the court. It’s going to be a collective decision. What’s best for Dejounte moving forward. We’ll make that (decision) collectively.”