Pelicans Star’s Shocking Reveal Sends Clear Message To Several NBA Greats

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 20: Dejounte Murray #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts to a call during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Smoothie King Center on January 20, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

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Six months after tearing his Achilles tendon, Dejounte Murray posted a stunning video. The New Orleans Pelicans guard is already back to dunking.

Murray suffered what is perhaps the most devastating injury for an athlete to sustain in a game against the Boston Celtics. That occurred Feb. 1, 2025.

That he’s already soaring above the rim again is an encouraging message for players like Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton to see. While everyone’s body and recovery rates are different, those three suffered the same injury as Murray.

That the latter is dunking six months after tearing his Achilles suggests that he underwent the SpeedBridge procedure. Tatum, who recently shared that he is already out of his boot and working out six times a week, likely had the same operation.

From Arthrex, the company behind the SpeedBridge procedure, to Dr. Kevin Stone, a leading expert in Achilles tendon repair, the medical community has emphasized to this author that they are bullish on the advancements in treating this injury.

“There’s nothing about an Achilles rupture that should prevent him from coming back better than he was before,” conveyed Dr. Stone in a conversation with Forbes on the heels of Tatum’s injury.

Murray’s video reveal also signals that the former All-Star is progressing at a rate that could have him in the Pelicans’ lineup faster than anticipated.

That’s not to suggest rushing his return. However, if medically cleared to make that become a reality, it will give New Orleans another ball handler and defensive pest.

Murray is a former All-Defensive selection. He also led the league in total thefts and steals per game in the 2021-22 season. At the other end of the floor, he has averaged at least 5.4 assists each of the last five years.

Dejounte Murray could help Pelicans maximize top pick

What the eight-year veteran brings on both sides of the ball makes him well-suited to operate alongside and help bring the best out of rookie Jeremiah Fears.

The Pelicans selected Fears seventh overall in this year’s NBA Draft. He is a gifted scorer and a blur with the ball in his hands. Allowing him to attack off the ball and get downhill of the catch will prove problematic for defenses.

“He’s so talented, but then people [have] got to remember, he’s so young, too. He’s 18 years old and [has] got so much potential,” teammate Hunter Dickinson told Forbes at Summer League. “He’s already a really good player now. So, sky’s the limit for him.”

However, at six-foot-four and 182 pounds, Fears is a prime target at the other end of the court. That’s another reason that pairing him with a player like Murray is ideal. A dynamic defensive talent like the latter can make life easier for the former Oklahoma Sooners star and help preserve the integrity of New Orleans’ defensive structure.

So, while the Pelicans’ roster reshuffle could send Dejounte Murray somewhere else this season, his impact on Fears could influence the organization to keep him in New Orleans.