After 13 difficult months of healing from a ruptured right Achilles tendon, Dejounte Murray's return to the New Orleans Pelicans lineup has provided an unmistakable spark. The All-Star has revitalized a locker room that was searching for an identity all season. James Borrego and Zion Williamson are two of many in the organization who are very grateful that their point guards are still involved with the long-term gameplan.
However, the 29-year-old admitted that the process of returning to form towards the end of the year has not been simple.
"You know, I'm feeling great mentally, physically, spiritually," Murray insisted. "Really taking it one day at a time, but this thing is a challenge, you know what I mean? Getting back into the flow of things is a challenge."
Getting reacclimated to the NBA pace in his situation with the Pelicans has really given Murray (16 points, 5.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds) a new appreciation for every opportunity.
"Coming back with only 20-some games left is really different because you see a different perspective of things," Murray explained. "Some teams are doing this, other teams are doing that, players in, players out. So for me, just taking it one day at a time and trying to get better every day."
Borrego kept an open mind about Murray's timeline, allowing the interim coach to consider any contribution a welcome surprise. This is just one way the Pelicans can find a ray of hope amid a lost season.
"To be honest, I didn't really know what to expect," Borrego confessed. "I never try to get ahead of it. I just live in the moment, see where (Murray) is, but he's impressive. I mean, just physically impressive to do that. The fact that he's out there doing it, for (Jason Tatum) too, you know, he's doing his job. It's impressive what these young guys have done, the dedication both of them have shown."
Williamson and Murray worked on group chat to keep everyone connected between challenges, and that chemistry is paying immediate benefits on the court.
“As a brother, it's good to have him back on the court,” Williamson said. "Even though we were checking on him, he was doubly checking on us, making sure everyone's composure was OK, making sure everyone was good, and checking on the team's position."
For Murray, the biggest hurdle remains finding his rhythm in meaningful games throughout the season. This will have to wait till next season. The condensed window leaves little room for gradual adjustments, especially for a team that is still trying to find consistency in expansion. For the Pelicans, the 3-3 record with Murray is a reminder of how much unreliable leadership can affect both the locker room and the scoreboard.
