Dejounte Murray made his long-awaited return to the court on Wednesday night, but the New Orleans Pelicans fell to the Toronto Raptors, 119-93. This marked Murray’s first appearance since he fractured his left hand during the season opener against Chicago on October 23.
Resuming his role as a starter, the former All-Star guard contributed 14 points in 25 minutes of play, yet his efforts were not enough to halt the Pelicans’ sixth consecutive defeat.
In a conversation after practice on Tuesday, Murray opened up about the personal matters that had previously kept him away from the team. He revealed that his mother had suffered a stroke, which prompted him to prioritize her well-being 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 regarding his decision to start against the Bulls. He reflected on the timing of his hand injury, interpreting it as a sign that he needed to remain with his mother. “I was more concerned about my mother. That was my priority. I wasn’t really worried about my recovery.”
Murray shared that his mother is now recovering well, and he feels “healthy and ready to help this team.” He expressed his eagerness to compete, stating, “I’m ready to hoop. Play for my mother — she’s going to be watching. I’m ready to compete, bring that winning spirit.”
The Pelicans have faced significant challenges with injuries this season, with all five starters missing games at various points. Star forward Zion Williamson has been sidelined for 12 games due to a hamstring injury, while Herb Jones is out with a shoulder strain. Additionally, Brandon Ingram missed a game due to calf soreness, which also affected his performance in a recent loss to Indiana.
Despite the team’s struggles, Murray remains optimistic. “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,” he said, noting his contributions of 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds in his debut with the Pelicans. “That’s just my mentality, and I feel like it can carry over to a lot of guys.”
Murray was acquired by New Orleans in an offseason trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Over his eight seasons in the NBA, he has averaged 15.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game.
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