Pelicans' Dejounte Murray wasn't going to be a 'chump' and asserts he's ready to play
In a season defined by misfortune and a plummet to the bottom of the Western Conference standings, the New Orleans Pelicans finally received a jolt of uncompromising competitive spirit. With the team sitting at a dismal 16-42 and the playoffs mathematically out of reach, conventional NBA wisdom would suggest shutting down a star player returning from a major injury. Dejounte Murray, however, has no interest in conventional wisdom or "business decisions."
Ahead of his long-awaited return to the court against the Golden State Warriors, the 29-year-old guard made it clear that sitting out the final stretch of a lost season was never an option. Murray, who has been sidelined for nearly 13 months following a ruptured right Achilles tendon suffered in January 2025, delivered a candid assessment of his mindset, rejecting the notion of preserving his body for the next campaign.
"There's a lot of excuses for a chump to be like, 'Nah. I ain't playing,' and I'm the opposite of that," Murray told reporters following Monday’s practice. "I'm not one of those guys like, 'I'm paid, I could get an extra six or seven months.' What I've been through, what I go through, I use that all to fuel the fire."
The sentiment is rare in the modern NBA, where load management and risk mitigation often take precedence over meaningless regular-season contests. For New Orleans, Murray’s assertion is less about salvaging the 2025-26 campaign and more about re-establishing a culture of accountability. By choosing to play, Murray is sending a direct message to a fractured locker room: professional pride does not fluctuate with the win-loss column.
Murray’s return comes at a time when the franchise faces swirling uncertainty regarding its future direction. Yet, his desire to "represent New Orleans" and compete—despite the team’s 14th-place standing—offers a foundational pillar for the organization to build upon. While the Pelicans may be looking toward the lottery, their point guard is strictly focused on the hardwood, proving that for a true competitor, the game itself is the only motivation required.
Ahead of his long-awaited return to the court against the Golden State Warriors, the 29-year-old guard made it clear that sitting out the final stretch of a lost season was never an option. Murray, who has been sidelined for nearly 13 months following a ruptured right Achilles tendon suffered in January 2025, delivered a candid assessment of his mindset, rejecting the notion of preserving his body for the next campaign.
"There's a lot of excuses for a chump to be like, 'Nah. I ain't playing,' and I'm the opposite of that," Murray told reporters following Monday’s practice. "I'm not one of those guys like, 'I'm paid, I could get an extra six or seven months.' What I've been through, what I go through, I use that all to fuel the fire."
The sentiment is rare in the modern NBA, where load management and risk mitigation often take precedence over meaningless regular-season contests. For New Orleans, Murray’s assertion is less about salvaging the 2025-26 campaign and more about re-establishing a culture of accountability. By choosing to play, Murray is sending a direct message to a fractured locker room: professional pride does not fluctuate with the win-loss column.
Murray’s return comes at a time when the franchise faces swirling uncertainty regarding its future direction. Yet, his desire to "represent New Orleans" and compete—despite the team’s 14th-place standing—offers a foundational pillar for the organization to build upon. While the Pelicans may be looking toward the lottery, their point guard is strictly focused on the hardwood, proving that for a true competitor, the game itself is the only motivation required.
