Dejounte Murray

Bridging the gap between old-school and new-school through a playstyle built to thrive and excite in any environment, Dejounte Murray offered something for hoops observers of every kind during his New Orleans Pelicans debut. Prepared to bring “The Big Easy” to its feet, fittingly through a little hard work, the former All-Star floor general reflexively hustles the floor in transition, supplying an advantageous three-on-one look with a reasonably-open shot attempt appearing inevitable. Eschewing the more traditional at-the-rim layup, Murray opts for creativity, slinging a behind-the-back dime to his smooth-shooting teammate in the left corner, prompting both a celebratory roar from the crowd, and a 3-pointer thereafter. Frenetic pace and lightning-quick scoring became the Pelicans’ recipe for success during a breakout third quarter, ultimately steering them in victory’s direction against the Chicago Bulls on October 23, 2024. Electrifying as always, Murray, despite a late-game hand fracture, discovered both teammates and history through a near-triple-double, accumulating 14 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists — tied for the most in a Pelicans debut — one steal, and a +5 plus-minus.