Fans of the Spurs or Hawks probably have a hard time recognizing him. Known for wasting balls since the start of his career, Dejounte Murray multiplies the blunders with ball in hand in New Orleans.
Since wearing the Pelicans jersey, the playmaker has lost a little more than 4 balls per game, double his career average. An unenviable ratio recently “boosted” by two outings in a row completed… with 8 lost balls.
“ I don't like losing the ball. I try to take this into account as much as possible. I'm not pointing the finger at anyone, I'm the last one to do so. I take responsibility for it, I don't like losing the ball. It's up to me to do better with the ball “, he insisted after a training session a few days ago.
Injuries that change everything
The 28-year-old did not necessarily have an explanation to offer for these blunders. However, he recalled that “ alchemy is everything “. Not easy to find, this alchemy, for a team decimated by injuries since the start of the exercise.
According to Spotrac, taken up by The AthleticPelicans players have already missed 127 games, including 17 for the leader alone after fracturing his left hand on opening night. Over the whole of last season, this accumulation of missed matches stopped at 153…
In recent weeks, the returns to competition of CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray should, on paper, have allowed New Orleans to annoy a lot of teams in the league . Even without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Instead, the Pelicans are not taking off: one victory in nine games after the summer rookie's return to play, with six defeats by 10 points or more. Result: despite its ambitions displayed at the start of the season, NOLA occupies last place in the West (5v-22d).
A clumsiness never seen before
Collective bankruptcy therefore, and individual for Dejounte Murray who, beyond the “turnovers”, displays a lower production compared to the level which allowed him to be All-Star: barely 17 points on average with above all 36% success on shots, his lowest success rate in his career.
The extra-sporting context may have played a role in this. Before the season, Dejounte Murray took time away from the team to care for his mother, who suffered a stroke. She is now recovering well, he assures.
“ He returns to a situation where he is pushed to have a lot on his shoulders. He's responsible for getting the team involved, setting up our game, defending some of the best players night in and night out, and trying to score 20+ points. He's still getting rusty, finding his rhythm », noted an optimistic Willie Green.
After all, his main recruit of the summer only played 10 matches in his new colors. “ In the end, I'm going to be better. It's not about being able to be: I'm going to be better », he concludes.
| 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 | 0.9 | 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 | 1.0 | 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 | 1.7 | 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 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 21.1 |
| 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 |
| 2024-25 | NOP | 10 | 33 | 36.4 | 28.1 | 84.2 | 0.4 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 16.6 |
| Total | 482 | 29 | 45.6 | 34.2 | 78.8 | 0.9 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 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.
