New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray understands that many thought he shouldn't have returned last season. Murray said despite the draw of getting ready for the 2026-27 season, he wanted to help the Pelicans chase a spot in the Play-In Tournament last season.

"Even coming back last year to play 14 games, it was really just like, now, we were 14th in the West, so we really didn't have anything to play for, but it's like we could reach 10 to get in the play-in, so it gave me something to play for. So that's my reason for coming back," Murray said. "Or I would have just sat out and got ready for this year. But it was like, nah, I wanted to go. I felt ready, obviously.

"Preparation is key; preparation is everything. And I worked my tail off to even be in a position to play. So I was just excited to go out to not only show my team and the people that support me, my family, but just anybody that you can fall and get back up ... as long as you got the mental part down pat. It's not easy, but you can do it. Anything's possible."

Murray went on to describe how hard the rehab process was, but how he attacked it and will continue to work to get himself back to his previous form.

"And again, it's all mental, right? That's just the process. Once you read up on the Achilles and you learn about the injury and why the injury happens and all these different things, it's like the only thing is to learn and enjoy your process and go through your process," Murray said. "My process was different from a bunch of guys, just like theirs was different from mine. And it's just like, that's for sure the hardest one, because I was hopping everywhere; I'm on a scooter, you can't walk. But at the end of the day, I attacked everything like no other. And I'll continue to do that."