When Dejounte Murray joined the New Orleans Pelicans, he was expected to elevate the backcourt and provide veteran leadership to a promising young roster. The move was seen as a key step toward turning the Pelicans into a serious threat in the Western Conference.
Instead, Murray’s first year in New Orleans turned into what he described as one of the toughest stretches of his career. In a candid moment, the former All-Star opened up about the mental and emotional toll the season took on him. He also shared why his frustrations went far beyond the box score.
Dejounte Murray Opens Up About Mental and Physical Toll in New Orleans
In a raw and emotional interview on “The Pivot Podcast” this week, Murray offered fans a brutally honest look at the struggles he’s faced since joining the Pelicans. Injuries, personal tragedy, and frustrations with the organization all piled up.
“It was a situation where, like, I got all these problems going on,” Murray said. “I broke my hand, I’m recovering. My mom had a stroke, one of my cousins got killed, then my uncle overdose [During all this], I’m not getting what I need in the organization. It’s hard for me to get my training time. It’s hard for me to get lifts. It’s hard for me to get my own court time. So, you can only imagine where my mental was at.”
“I am stressed, I am mad every day, I am sad, I am angry, I just don’t want to be there at that time, it’s so much going on, and it’s crazy,” he continued. “I am seeing something that’s going on that I never experienced in the NBA, and the NBA has always been the ultimate professionals at everything.”
– Chris Conner (@Impatientbull) June 17, 2025
The 6’4″ guard said that tearing his Achilles in early February against the Boston Celtics was a turning point, physically and emotionally. According to Murray, what followed was a lack of support and structure that left him feeling isolated.
Murray’s criticism comes at a time when the Pelicans are desperate for stability. They ended the 2024-25 season 14th in the West with a 21-62 record, far removed from the optimism that followed their post-Anthony Davis rebuild.
In 31 games with New Orleans, Murray averaged 17.5 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.5 rebounds. His two-way play and ability to create in the half-court were supposed to complement Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III. Instead, Murray struggled to find his rhythm and voice on a roster still figuring out its identity.
Recall that Murray was drafted 29th overall by the Spurs in 2016 and later found success in Atlanta, but his move to New Orleans was meant to mark a new chapter. Instead, it became a season filled with challenges, both physical and personal.
With an Achilles injury expected to sideline him to start next season, his future with the Pelicans is uncertain. Still, if he returns healthy and focused, he could bring exactly what New Orleans hoped for from the beginning. That’s leadership, stability, and a much-needed spark.
