Draymond Green Calls Dejounte Murray the “True Leader” of the Pelicans Amid Injury Woes

The New Orleans Pelicans have endured a turbulent start to the 2025–26 NBA season, dropping six of their first eight games and losing key players to injury. While much of the attention has centered on Zion Williamson’s latest hamstring issue, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green believes the team’s biggest void lies elsewhere.

On The Draymond Green Show, the veteran forward identified Dejounte Murray as the Pelicans’ “true leader,” saying his absence has left a critical leadership gap that has contributed to the team’s early-season slump. “You’re fighting an uphill battle when your best players aren’t healthy,” Green said. “Dejounte’s the leader of that team. Make no mistake about it.”

Green’s comments come at a time when New Orleans has struggled to find stability on both ends of the floor. Without Murray and Williamson, the Pelicans have lacked both defensive organization and late-game composure. At 2–6, the team faces growing urgency to rediscover its rhythm before the season slips away.

Murray, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles suffered last season, is expected to return in January. His comeback could mark a turning point for a Pelicans squad that has yet to find its identity amid injuries and lineup changes.

1. Draymond’s Perspective on Leadership and Team Identity

For Green, who has built his reputation on leadership and locker-room presence, the situation in New Orleans highlights a broader truth about NBA teams — the best player isn’t always the leader. He emphasized that while Williamson is the franchise cornerstone, Murray provides the competitive voice and structure that hold the team together. “In this league, we always wanna make the best player the leader,” Green said. “Everybody wants to make Zion the leader, but Zion isn’t the leader. Dejounte Murray is the leader of that team.” His comments underline how teams often rely on personality and accountability as much as talent when it comes to establishing a winning culture. Green’s perspective reflects the Pelicans’ ongoing search for consistency since adding Murray from Atlanta last season. The 27-year-old guard had been expected to bring veteran poise, defensive energy, and playmaking balance to complement Williamson’s scoring prowess. But Murray’s injury cut short that vision before it could take shape. Without his presence, the Pelicans have lacked an on-court general capable of setting the tone — both strategically and emotionally. It’s a void that has become increasingly visible in close games and defensive breakdowns.

2. Injury List Grows as Poole Joins the Sidelines

The Pelicans’ challenges don’t stop with Murray and Williamson. The team announced that guard Jordan Poole, one of their key offseason additions, will miss time with a strained quadriceps. Poole, who started in four of his seven appearances this season, is expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks. “Jordan Poole has been diagnosed with a mild left vastus lateralis (quad) strain,” the team said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. “Poole will be re-evaluated in 7–10 days, and further updates will be provided.” The injury compounds the Pelicans’ depth issues in the backcourt, leaving rookie Jeremiah Fears likely to assume a larger role. Poole had shown flashes of offensive spark but was still adapting to his new system under head coach Willie Green. His absence, combined with the lack of veteran leadership on the floor, places additional strain on a roster already testing its limits. With so many rotation players out, New Orleans faces the challenge of balancing player development with the immediate need to stay competitive in a stacked Western Conference. Every game without its core leaders further highlights the importance of Murray’s eventual return.

3. Murray’s Road Back and the Pelicans’ Path Forward

Dejounte Murray’s recovery has become a focal point of the Pelicans’ season. Acquired from the Atlanta Hawks ahead of the 2024–25 campaign, Murray was determined to rejuvenate his career in New Orleans and help the team make a deeper playoff push. His Achilles rupture, however, placed those hopes on hold and left the Pelicans struggling to fill the leadership vacuum. Murray’s situation mirrors that of other NBA stars who suffered similar injuries last year, including Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton. Each of those teams had to adjust not just to the loss of talent but to the absence of leadership and emotional steadiness — a challenge New Orleans now faces. Team insiders maintain optimism that Murray’s return will restore both direction and defensive balance. His communication, court awareness, and competitive mentality were major reasons the Pelicans targeted him as a long-term partner for Williamson. As Green noted, every team needs its emotional compass. For New Orleans, Murray’s leadership could be the difference between a middling season and a midyear resurgence once he’s back on the floor.