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With the New Orleans Pelicans already losing six of their first eight games of the 2025-26 season, and now having Zion Williamson sidelined due to a hamstring injury, many believe that the team is going to be without its "leader."
However, according to Draymond Green, it's not Zion's absence that will truly derail the momentum of the Pelicans team, but rather the continued unavailability of Dejounte Murray.
Put simply, for the four-time NBA champion, Dejounte's leadership and reliability embody the qualities of a true "alpha" leader, which is clearly hampering the Pelicans from having any meaningful direction and identity in the West.
Since earning his first All-Star selection in the 2021-22 season, Murray has proven himself to be one of the most impactful two-way guards, consistently averaging over 20.0 points and more than a steal per game. However, in the 2024-25 season - his first with the Pelicans - Murray injured his Achilles and was sidelined just after 31 appearances.
Green believes that Murray has the right mindset to make countless sacrifices, inspire teammates with his production and carry the team on his back during clutch moments, which sets the right tone as an ideal "leader" should do.
Moreover, on his podcast, Draymond acknowledged that while Zion definitely has the two-way skillset to be the most dominant player, his propensity to get injured and leave the team stranded are not the qualities that a leader of a team should portray.
"You're fighting an uphill battle. When your best players aren't healthy, it's an uphill battle. Dejounte is still out. Dejounte is the leader of that team, make no mistake about it," Green said. "Just like any other team he has been on, Dejounte Murray is the leader of that team. See, in this league, we always want to make the best player, the leader. So, everybody wants to make Zion the leader, but Zion isn't the leader; Dejounte Murray is the leader of that team."
Over the past several campaigns, injuries have repeatedly derailed Zion's progress and the team's chemistry, leaving New Orleans without a consistent anchor to rally behind. While there is an expectation from Williamson to change every offseason, when the season commences, it's all the same story with him.
Murray, meanwhile, despite dealing with an Achilles issue for the past year, has shown remarkable durability over his career, as evidenced by his playing more than 65 games in five consecutive seasons and earning a reputation for his dependability. That consistency is what Draymond defines as the mark of a true leader — someone willing to endure, adapt, and keep showing up for the team.
That being said, as the Pelicans navigate this rough stretch, their immediate challenge will be to stay afloat until Murray returns. If he can step in and bring back the team's balance, maybe they can finally shake off their long-standing playoff frustrations and make a deep postseason run in 2026. It's clear Draymond is counting on Dejounte to spark that momentum within the Pelicans.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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However, according to Draymond Green, it's not Zion's absence that will truly derail the momentum of the Pelicans team, but rather the continued unavailability of Dejounte Murray.
Put simply, for the four-time NBA champion, Dejounte's leadership and reliability embody the qualities of a true "alpha" leader, which is clearly hampering the Pelicans from having any meaningful direction and identity in the West.
Green crowns Murray as the Pelicans' leader
Since earning his first All-Star selection in the 2021-22 season, Murray has proven himself to be one of the most impactful two-way guards, consistently averaging over 20.0 points and more than a steal per game. However, in the 2024-25 season - his first with the Pelicans - Murray injured his Achilles and was sidelined just after 31 appearances.
Green believes that Murray has the right mindset to make countless sacrifices, inspire teammates with his production and carry the team on his back during clutch moments, which sets the right tone as an ideal "leader" should do.
Moreover, on his podcast, Draymond acknowledged that while Zion definitely has the two-way skillset to be the most dominant player, his propensity to get injured and leave the team stranded are not the qualities that a leader of a team should portray.
"You're fighting an uphill battle. When your best players aren't healthy, it's an uphill battle. Dejounte is still out. Dejounte is the leader of that team, make no mistake about it," Green said. "Just like any other team he has been on, Dejounte Murray is the leader of that team. See, in this league, we always want to make the best player, the leader. So, everybody wants to make Zion the leader, but Zion isn't the leader; Dejounte Murray is the leader of that team."
Zion cannot be relied upon as a leader
Over the past several campaigns, injuries have repeatedly derailed Zion's progress and the team's chemistry, leaving New Orleans without a consistent anchor to rally behind. While there is an expectation from Williamson to change every offseason, when the season commences, it's all the same story with him.
Murray, meanwhile, despite dealing with an Achilles issue for the past year, has shown remarkable durability over his career, as evidenced by his playing more than 65 games in five consecutive seasons and earning a reputation for his dependability. That consistency is what Draymond defines as the mark of a true leader — someone willing to endure, adapt, and keep showing up for the team.
That being said, as the Pelicans navigate this rough stretch, their immediate challenge will be to stay afloat until Murray returns. If he can step in and bring back the team's balance, maybe they can finally shake off their long-standing playoff frustrations and make a deep postseason run in 2026. It's clear Draymond is counting on Dejounte to spark that momentum within the Pelicans.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Continue reading...
