Dejounte Murray Interview from 2025 Pelicans Media Day | New Orleans Pelicans

just what’s the rehab process been like and how are you feeling? Man, it’s been great. Uh, you know, just taking it one day at a time and, you know, making sure the mental’s there and, uh, obviously all the physical things and really just attacking it like no other. And with a lot of people going through that particular injury, they talk about the mental to the daily, the monot. What’s that been like trying to get through that part of it as much as the physical part? I mean, it’s really nothing. It’s really just, you know, uh, you got to make sure the body and the mind’s on the same page and, uh, that’s really the importance of it, you know, uh, the work for me is just something I love to do. But I think the most important was just the mental part, you know, uh, just understanding you got to go through it to get to it and, you know, at the end of the day, stay sharp, stay focused, and, you know, make sure you handle your business. Are you a little ahead of where you thought you would be or about where behind? No, for sure. I mean, since what, since April to today, I’ve been going six days a week, you know, twice a day and just alternating uh, you know, pool and and on court, you know, but in the the the training room and the weight room every single day and just taking my time, man, but having fun with it, trying to, you know, turn a negative into a positive and it’s been just that. So, you know, I just I’ve been having fun just seeing the progression, you know, knowing that day that it all happened and you know, I just couldn’t walk and couldn’t feel my cal and you know, just it was a new thing and it was a challenge, but you know, I accepted it and you know, I’m just continue to stay on the right road. Turn negative to a positive. That’s kind of been your whole story, I guess. How much has what you went through helped you with this with this? I mean, it’s beautiful. I mean everything just my whole life even you know just the past recently like just reflecting on everything uh you know I just feel like when you go through so much and and you know a man like myself that believe in God everything happens for a reason and you know everything I went through you know was for a reason and I just think you know I’m going to come out on top and it would all make sense you know later down the road. Can you give us a window into where you are in your rehab process? Like what you’re at and what’s lays ahead still for you to do? Like what challenges what you have to get past hurdles and stuff? I mean, what you mean by that? Well, I just mean in the process, right, Kayle’s injury, any kind of severe injury, there’s so many hurdles you got to take one step at a time. But I was just curious like where you are in that rehab process. Are you running, jumping? I mean, what kind of restrictions are still on you? I could run 10 down and backs in probably 57 seconds. Uh, and this just from all the work, you know what I’m saying? Uh, I think I could beat a lot of guys oneonone right now if I’m just being honest with you. And that’s just the confidence. That’s the work I’ve been doing. Like I said, six days a week, twice a day. But the beauty of it is, you know, you you’re not there’s no rush. I don’t feel rushed by nobody. you know, everybody’s on board and like I said, I’m just having fun. I found that joy, that happiness, you know, in life and then also, you know, most importantly what I love to do, which is basketball. So, you know, for me, I’m really just having fun each and every day in the weight room, on the table, and and obviously on the court. Dante, how you belated? Uh, what did you learn from being 28? What I learned from being 28, first of all, thank you. Appreciate you. Uh, man, I’m somebody that’s just open-minded, you I feel like I can learn from people younger than me, older than me, the same age as me. You know, I’m not that guy that think I know everything. So, you know, I’m always just trying to be a sponge to learning and growing and maturing as a person, a father and basketball player and all those sorts of things. So, uh I can’t just say one thing. You know, every day I’m trying to just be better each and every day. You bring a leadership quality to the court that I think was sorely missed last season. Uh, how important is being that leader on the court, being that veteran, especially with the young rookies coming in, first round rookies with a ton of confidence, and without CJ now with him being gone, how important is that to really be the vocal guy, be the leader on the court, not just physically playing the game, but keeping everybody in line? Uh, I think it’s just who I am as a person, you know, no matter what room I go in. Uh, you know, but for the younger guys, older guys, like I said, we’re going to teach each other. We’re going to learn each other. And just me as an individual, you know, I’m here, you know, obviously I I have a goal for myself to continue to get healthy and get back to, you know, basketball shape where I’m healthy and ready to go, you know, but besides that, you know, I’m here to support the guys, you know, training camp, uh, practices, games, film, and just being that support system for them, you know, showing seeing telling them what I see and where they could be better and, you know, even them helping me, you know, because like I said, I’m around, I’mma be here, and I’m going be supporting them. So, you know, you just got to go through it. Attack each day. Don’t look in the past. Don’t look ahead. You know, just try to attack today and that’s about it. To that point, um, adding veterans like Jordan Pool, like Looney, guys that have won championship, how valuable do you think that is and how needed do you feel like that was from seeing what it was last year? Uh, I mean, you don’t focus on the past, man. Obviously, those are, you know, two great guys. You know, you got to add in a guy like Sadique Bay as well. You know, a great guy. I was teammates with him in Atlanta. And, uh, you know, professionalism is everything. And, you know, when you define that, you know, for us in this sport, you know, I think it’s just showing up on time, you know, being a great person, uh, you know, handling your work and just being a sponge to learning. So, you know, it’s great to have, you know, new guys, but the character thing means the most, I feel like. And all three of those guys are high character guys. Uh three guys you hear about that they work, you know, and they don’t come with no type of baggage. So it’s great to, you know, be able to add some guys like that and, you know, just got to let time allow everything to, you know, be revealed. Young say with that sticking um excuse me with the age. Say that again. I think sticking with that the leadership role despite uh the age of course with you those guys you got Trey Herb you know other guys y’all are already considered vets as well. Does that surprise you any and how do you really take on that role? I really don’t try to fall into that. Uh you know I just try to fall into what’s right and what’s wrong and how can we grow together? How can we you know teach each other? Like I said, uh you know, you got rookies that came in and you know, we’re gonna be able to see things from them whether they’re playing or not playing right away. You know, they’re gonna be able to see the game a different level. They’re going to be able to see things in practice and you know, just them feeling comfortable knowing they can go talk to the guys you say like the vets and you know, the vets coming down out of the game out of practice like, “Hey, what’ you see?” You know, it’s just really communication. So, you know, I don’t like to put an age thing on it. You know, obviously you got guys with the experience and the experience is going to help the younger guys with the knowledge of having that experience, but you know, at the end of the day, you know, we all together and we all share the same goal and that’s to get better and win. What do you think’s leadership? Uh, I think his resume and, you know, him as a person speaks for, you know, uh, who he is. Uh, you know, I’ve been knowing Joe, you know, since I came in the league. Uh obviously we’re going to get to know each other more, you know, being in the same building every day. But uh you know, our talk’s been great. Uh you know, just his vision, you know, no BS. Uh I think he’s he’s coming here with a mindset that you know, just hey, handle your business, do your job, and you know, just mainly having high character guys around uh and just everybody part of the organization and uh you know, so it’s great to have somebody like that around. You say no. Some things that that you’ve seen that you know he’s not I mean it’s from the conversations you know obviously you got to allow the season to play out obviously we start camp tomorrow so you know you look at today’s a beautiful day to be able to be around all you guys and you know us take photos and stuff but you know the real stuff start tomorrow and you know moving forward and you know you just let things plan out you know but like I said his resume speaks for itself you know he won as a player he won as a GM so he know what it takes and uh that’s what I mean no BS so you know now you just got to see you got to let everything just you know fall in place. You talked about the difficulties of last season injuries and stuff. Uh what did it take to kind of get through that and what were some of the lessons you took from that experience? Uh I mean I think it was just hard. Uh it’s crazy you say that. Like I had these conversations with you know some family friends the last couple days and you know I never really put myself first. Uh so you know I was just bottling up so much things and you know it could be good or bad. Uh you know but for me just from the life stuff you know I was putting everybody in front of myself and then obviously getting traded here last year there was just this this thing in me that’s it’s a prideful thing you know what I’m saying like I want to show I always want to prove each and every day and and just you know I wanted to show not only the New Orleans fan base but the organization like you guys traded for me and I want to show you why you traded for me. So, it was just so much on my shoulders. And, you know, at the end of the day, I’m I’m built for any challenge. Uh, I want nothing easy. I want to get it all out the mud. So, you know, at the end of the day, I think what I what I got to learn about myself and tell myself is, you know, sometimes it’s okay to put yourself first. And me putting myself first allowed me to do great things on and off the floor. We watched you develop a really good relationship with Zion last year. What have you seen from him since the season ended, his work this summer? what kind of steps he’s taken to improve his game both on and off the court. Uh I mean, you know, at the end of the day, I think Z’s a great person, you know, uh misunderstood, uh you know, but far as the summer, you know, I was in Vegas rehabbing, you know, I was keeping in contact with the guys and they was keeping contact with me, but you know, far as seeing each other, we didn’t really see each other, you know, but at the end of the day, great person and you know, uh you know, time will just show, you know, the work’s going to show for all of us. You know, what you did, did you get better? and uh you know hopefully handled his business and he’s ready to go. You know he looks good. I seen him in our mini camp when we all met in Cali and uh that was the first thing I told him like your body looks good you know just seeing him run up and down the floor and just you know the way that his shape was. So I’m excited just to see you know not only Z but everybody say he’s misunderstood. Uh I mean you know that’s somebody he doesn’t speak a lot you know and obviously I don’t think it’s a guy that wants to just you know be hurt and not play games. Uh, so, you know, at the end of the day, you just you just got to see. Hopefully, he’s, you know, healthy to be able to play a whole season, but I feel that way for everybody. And, uh, you know, that’s the only way you get to really, you know, see what you got and see who he could be. You’ve spoken about him a lot publicly throughout your career, but he’s officially retired now. Um, Coach Pop, what do you want to say about Coach Pop and, you know, kind of like what he’s brought to the game of basketball, you specifically? Uh, man, he’s great. Like I said, that’s somebody that’s been a father figure to me. uh you know, really close. We talk all the time, you know, even recently just hearing how he’s back working and he’s doing really well for himself and uh you know, cuz health is important. You know, health is wealth and uh that’s my guy. I love him. You know, uh I wish him the best in his next chapter. I know he’s still going to be a part of the Spurs and you know, he can’t just get away from basketball. So, you know, that’s it. Health, um Sadique is another guy that’s coming off some missing extended time. just what have you been able to discuss with him about how he’s looking forward to attacking this season? Man, just attacking each and every day. You know, that’s a guy that works though. You know, he he loved the process. I feel like when you’re around guys or you see guys that, you know, they they they love the game before the game rewarded them. And uh what I mean by that is just you just fell in love with the game. You fell in love with just working and earning everything. And you know, Sadi Bay is a guy that stands for that. And you know, when you say his name, you know, that’s the definition of that. So, you know, I’m just excited because I I remember when he, you know, tore his ACL verse the Pelicans when we was in Atlanta and uh I was so hurt for him, you know, because it was a big year, contract year. He was playing well and he just was in a great space and uh you know, like I said, you know, that time when it happened, you know, I was by his side from then to now and I’m just like, you know, just attack it. It’s nothing but no work. Take care of your mental. You already work. So, you know, I’m excited to see him just get that confidence back and go out and do what he love to do. What has developing a relationship with with Jeremiah been like so far? Great kid. Uh full of energy, full of life, works hard, uh confidence out the roof. So, I’m just excited to watch him grow. Like, everybody askked me about him, whether it’s in the building, out the building, and you know, I say the same thing, man. I just hope, you know, everybody, you know, in organization takes his development serious and allow him to be as great as he can be because he’s already shown that he’s a high character guy. He’s a guy that want to work and get everything. Like just even hearing the stories that you know I know his story about he was supposed to go to Illinois and you know and he’s supposed to even be in college this year and like just hearing stuff like that. He went and took the opportunity in Oklahoma and he ran with it and he made something out of nothing. So you know just excited for him and you know want to push him and want to help him as much as I can. You had a um we heard from Jones a second ago. He’s obviously one of the best defensive guards in the NBA having him back. Um, we just saw the best defense in the NBA win the win the title last season. Yeah. How important is defense? What’s your defensive mentality going in here? I mean, you got a great wingspan, Trey’s wingspan, Herb’s wingspan. Like, how how important is setting the tone on defense? I mean, it’s really important. Uh, you know, all the great players that won at a high level, no matter, you know, where it was, uh, they’ll tell you that, you know, defense is something that it’s got to be in you. It got to be something you want to do. You know, there’s some guys that are, you know, able to have more than the other guy has. And I think the effort’s everything. If you show effort, you know, you you don’t have to like defense, but I feel like if you show effort, you’ll do things that you will shock yourself. And then, you know, there’s guys like myself that I take pride in it. You know, I I was young playing my uncle, so being that young guy, you had to get a stop to get the ball. So, that’s just in me. It’s installed in me. And, you know, defense win championships. Obviously, you got to put the ball in the hole, but you know, defense is as important. You feel like you and the order are on the same page regarding your needs? I know this summer you talked about maybe some miscommunication regards to your rehab or whatever you may have needed. You feel like you’ve had those conversations and you’re you’re working in the same direction now. I mean, even that, you know, like that was just me sharing my experience, you know, and at the end of the day, we’re professional athletes and we deserve the best, but we also got to put the work in and be professionals. You know, the professionalism word that I just said. And, you know, even on that, there’s a lot of great people around this building. I think it was so much going on and it’s okay. You know what I’m saying? Like, people got to understand that everything’s not going to be peaches and cream and uh, you know, just being on the same page and everybody getting what they need is the only way to allow you to grow and go in the right direction. So, you know, everything’s been great. You know, uh, everybody’s been a part of my rehab. You know, I’m excited to be here and, you know, show up every day and work and just be a part of the team. So, you know, we move forward and at the end of the day, I think the most important is being on the same page, everybody. You have a big mind where you want to give back. I’m working, man. I’m working. Yes, sir. in terms of being on the same page when so when one front office moves aggressively bring you in make your centerpiece sees you as their solution and then one season later they’re gone as a new front office is there anything that you have to do to get on the same page with them is there anything you need to hear from them does cause uncertainty or awkward or anything like that I mean you can’t really go off of hearing things and I think that’s in all the fields we’re in you know what I’m saying anybody could tell us anything but it means nothing if the actions don’t match it you you know, actions speak louder than words. So, you know, for myself, my job is to continue to show up, you know, be the leader I am and and just work my tail off and like I said, help the guys that want to be helped and allow people to help me. And uh, you know, that’s going to speak for itself and everything else will just take care of it. See you guys.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray addressed the media at 2025-26 Pelicans Media Day on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
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