A failed bet. This is what could define the two years of Dejounte Murray alongside Trae Young in Atlanta.
After a balanced record in 2023 (41 wins – 41 losses) and a negative record in 2024 (36 wins – 46 losses), the leader is ready to take over the organization of the Pelicans attack. The 28-year-old wants to make his teammates better, starting with Zion Williamson, whom he wants to help reach a milestone. The latter, who traveled to welcome Dejounte Murray during his first press conference this summer, was enthusiastic about the arrival of the player, elected “All-Star” in 2022: “ Dejounte, I’ve said it before, he’s a killer”.
A balance to find
Frustrated through his role with the Hawks, Dejounte Murray wishes to find more natural automatisms within the Pelicans attack: “ In Atlanta, I was in the corner and on the wings, and I did the best I could. Here, they allow me to play in my real position. Play leader. Organize everything and make others better. Do what I do best”. The leader's best passing season took place in 2022 in San Antonio, with an average of 9.3 offerings per game.
David Griffin, vice president of the Pelicans, said during media day that the current team was “ more talented than ever”with three players already “All-Star”: Zion Williamson (2021, 2023), Brandon Ingram (2020) and Dejounte Murray (2022). Also with CJ McCollum and valuable role players like Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III, the Pelicans have assets to climb the hierarchy of the Western Conference.
It remains to find a balance because CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram but also Zion Williamson like to have the ball in their hands, and the Pelicans were stripped under the circle by letting Jonas Valanciunas slip away.
| Dejounte Murray | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | SAN | 38 | 9 | 43.1 | 39.1 | 70.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 3.4 |
| 2017-18 | SAN | 81 | 22 | 44.3 | 26.5 | 70.9 | 1.4 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 8.1 |
| 2019-20 | SAN | 66 | 26 | 46.2 | 36.9 | 79.8 | 1.1 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 10.9 |
| 2020-21 | SAN | 67 | 32 | 45.3 | 31.7 | 79.1 | 0.9 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 15.7 |
| 2021-22 | SAN | 68 | 35 | 46.2 | 32.7 | 79.4 | 1.2 | 7.1 | 8.3 | 9.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.2 |
| 2022-23 | ATL | 74 | 36 | 46.4 | 34.4 | 83.2 | 0.7 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| 2023-24 | ATL | 78 | 36 | 45.9 | 36.3 | 79.4 | 0.8 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 22.5 |
| Total | 472 | 29 | 45.8 | 34.5 | 78.7 | 0.9 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 15.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
