Dejounte Murray is poised to make his return to the New Orleans Pelicans lineup on Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors, marking his first appearance since fracturing his left hand in the season opener against Chicago on October 23.
Reflecting on his return after Tuesday’s practice, Murray revealed that his mother, who recently suffered a stroke, has been on his mind throughout his recovery. He shared that personal matters had briefly taken him away from the team during the final days of the preseason.
“It was tough to leave and go deal with that. As she got better, she wanted me to come play,” Murray explained, referring to his decision to start in the season opener. He added that his hand injury during that game felt like a sign to prioritize his family, saying, “‘Nah, you need to stay with your mom.’”
Murray emphasized that his mother’s well-being was his main concern during this challenging time. “I wasn’t really worried about my recovery,” he stated, noting that she has since made a good recovery. “I’m healthy and ready to help this team.”
“I’m ready to hoop. Play for my mother — she’s going to be watching,” he said, expressing his eagerness to compete and bring a winning mentality to the court.
The Pelicans (4-14) have struggled this season, losing 14 of their last 16 games after starting with two victories. The team has been plagued by injuries, with all five starters sidelined at times. Star forward Zion Williamson has missed 12 games due to a hamstring injury and illness, while Herb Jones is out with a shoulder strain. Brandon Ingram’s status remains uncertain after he missed practice on Tuesday due to calf soreness.
Despite these challenges, Murray and fellow guard CJ McCollum are expected to play against the Raptors. “I don’t care how many games we’ve lost. I just know every time I step on the floor I feel like we can win games,” said Murray, who recorded 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds in his only game with the Pelicans. “That’s just my mentality, and I feel like it can carry over to a lot of guys.”
Acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in the offseason, Murray has averaged 15.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds over his eight-year NBA career.
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