FEBRUARY 1: The Pelicans have formally confirmed that Murray has a right Achilles tear and will miss the rest of the season (Twitter link).
JANUARY 31: Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray has torn his right Achilles tendon, ending his 2024/25 season, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).
Murray suffered the injury in the first quarter of Friday’s loss to Boston. After driving to the basket and attempting a floater, Murray landed awkwardly and fell to the floor without being hit, grabbing the back of his right leg (Twitter video link). At the next stoppage in play, he limped off the court and into the locker room.
The Pelicans have yet to officially confirm the diagnosis. Head coach Willie Green told reporters after the game that Murray would undergo imaging and the team would provide an update after seeing the results (Twitter link via Marc J. Spears of Andscape). However, Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link) has also heard that it’s an Achilles tear for the New Orleans guard.
It has been a nightmarish first year as a Pelican for Murray, who was acquired by the club in an offseason trade with Atlanta. As William Guillory of The Athletic notes (via Twitter), the 28-year-old left the team right before the start of the season when his mother suffered a stroke, then broke his left hand in the first game of the regular season.
Murray returned after an 18-game absence following his hand fracture, but his shooting percentage of 39.3% from the field through 30 games entering Friday was easily a career low, and the Pelicans – plagued all season by injuries affecting several starters and rotation players – are off to a 12-37 start.
While this season is a lost cause in New Orleans, there’s also no guarantee Murray will be ready for the start of the 2025/26 campaign, given the typical recovery timeline for an Achilles tear. He has two more guaranteed seasons left on his contract after this season, with a player option for 2027/28.
With Murray unavailable for the rest of the season, the Pelicans figure to lean more heavily on CJ McCollum for ball-handling duties, with reserve guard Jose Alvarado also playing a more substantial role. Alvarado took Murray’s place in the lineup to open the second half on Friday.
New Orleans won’t be eligible to apply for a disabled player exception to replace Murray, since the deadline to apply for a DPE passed on January 15.
Terrible blow ….. hasn’t gone well for Murray. Since he left Spurs. Get well maaaann
Hasn’t gone well for NO since they drafted Zion.
Time to clean house. 2025 draft is the big one.
I think the poor guy lost a year when he was with the Spurs too? Hoping for better luck going forward for the young man.
Yep, his first season. Coach pop was nearly in tears, taking about it during his press conference, afterward. He had a decent run of health in between, but he had a lot of bad sh!t happen to him this season better this. Sad.
He tore his ACL in his third season.
Anthony Davis and his Pelicans teammates also had PLENTY of injury problems…
The problem is clearly with the Pelicans trainers/medical staff
Damn….
Damn. Hope he recovers well.
Why are you here ?
He’s the perfect fit for the Pelicans… fortunately this won’t damage any playoff hopes. I do hope, however, that he comes back next year at full strength so we can see his chemistry with Zion Williamson flourish and have some serious success.
Maybe the end of next year. The achilles is usually a year to year plus injury. In all honesty unfortunately he may not play till the season after since he will need ramp up time once hes cleared.
He is a terrible fit for the Pelicans. Cant shoot/space the floor, average/below average playmaker for a point guard and mediocre defender.
Definition of a cursed franchise. Boogie tore his Achilles and never was the same player, AD wanting out, Zion eating burgers and now Murray’s injury. This is wild.
Lets take a look at their training staff because this isnt normal at all… I heard some years ago that the Pelicans shared the training/medical staff with the Saints because the owners were too cheap to get them their own staff
Firesale coming soon for NOLA?
They could just let Ingram leave and find a taker for Zion and be in a good spot with a top pick this year.
They can still trade Ingram and Zion. It’s what they should be considering. CJ’s value won’t ever be higher than it is now either.
Gasp
Injuries in NO this year are insane. Hope he can bounce back
I told you to trade him for a C and now look
Time for David Griffin to earn his salary. Zion, Ingram and CJ need to all go. Get some picks. Start over!
I’m sad to get this Dejounte Murray news! The New Orleans Pelicans is a terrible organization.
Dejounte Murray might miss the rest of this season and all of next season.
Zion Williamson needs to ask for a trade this summer.
Brandon Ingram might get traded by February 6th or definitely needs to leave this summer as a free agent.
C.J. McCollum might get traded this deadline or offseason as well.
Willie Green going to likely get fired because he’s in such a bad situation. He will have to go back to being an assistant coach.
:-|