Dejounte Murray reminds Pelicans fans of a connection that could ease his return

The long-awaited return of New Orleans Pelicans All-Star guard Dejounte Murray is finally here. Tuesday night, he'll make his season debut at home against the Golden State Warriors. In anticipation of this game, Murray spoke to the media on Monday. He touched on many things, including the importance of going out and competing for the fans every single night, wanting to represent New Orleans, and that he was going to give it his all for the rest of the season. Murray also reminded fans of a connection he shares with interim head coach James Borrego that goes back to 2016.

During the 2016 NBA Draft, when Murray was taken 29th overall by the San Antonio Spurs, Borrego was an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich. He was an assistant from 2015 to 2018 before landing the Charlotte Hornets head coaching job during the 2018 offseason.

Although they only spent a short amount of time together before Borrego moved on to a bigger role, the relationship is very much there. That familiarity should ease the transition, as Borrego is well aware of what it takes to really get Murray going.

Why the Borrego connection matters

For any athlete returning from a major injury, nothing makes the process easier than familiarity and comfort. Those are two things Murray has with Borrego.

A lot of the actions and sets the Pelicans have run since Borrego took over come from his time with the Spurs. That high pick-and-roll is something the Pelicans have been running since the coaching change, a common Popovich coaching tree style of play.

Murray's best season of his career came with the Spurs in 2021-22, when he was named an All-Star after averaging 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.2 assists. This was a year when the Spurs' offense relied heavily on screen-and-roll actions, letting Murray decide where the ball went next. That offensive structure mirrors the system in which Murray previously thrived, and it’s the type of setup he’ll be reinserted into under Borrego.

In Murray’s second season with the Spurs, while Borrego was still on staff, he earned All-Defensive Second Team honors. The type of defensive intensity Murray brought from the point of attack that season is something this Pelicans team desperately needs as they carry the league's fourth-worst defensive rating. If Murray rediscovers that type of defensive energy, it would immediately address one of the team's biggest needs.

One of the most valuable things a point guard can bring is being an extension of the coach. New Orleans now gets that with Murray's return. He's always been a vocal leader on the court, but that presence becomes even more impactful thanks to the trust and connection he has with interim head coach James Borrego.