Dejounte Murray Injury Update, Latest News on Timeline to Return for Pelicans Star

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray is nearing his 2025-26 season debut, according to Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego.

"He's close," Borrego said Thursday, per NOLA.com's Rod Walker. "I'd say in the next week, he's back on the floor playing NBA games, which is amazing."

Murray is recovering from a ruptured right Achilles that he suffered in Jan. 2025.

He was a full participant in New Orleans' practices on Wednesday and Thursday, via Walker.

Murray was acquired by the Pelicans in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2024 offseason, appearing in 31 contests throughout his first year as a member of the organization. He averaged 17.5 points, 7.4 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 39.3 percent from the field.

It'll be intriguing to see how Murray fits in the backcourt with Pelicans rookie point guard Jeremiah Fears, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Fears has been a bright spot for New Orleans this year, averaging 13.2 points per game on 42.9/32.4/81.4 shooting splits.

The Pelicans only sit at No. 14 in the Western Conference standings with a 15-41 record, but the return of Murray could provide some hope for the future if he's able to thrive while playing alongside their young core.