Some NBA players take the easy road. Dejounte Murray’s path has been anything but — a 29th-overall pick turned All-Star, a torn ACL at 21, a max contract, and then a ruptured Achilles in January 2025 that could have ended his prime. Instead, he’s back on the court for the New Orleans Pelicans, playing the 2025-26 season with a story that’s equal parts resilience, risk, and reinvention.
Team: New Orleans Pelicans · Position: Guard · Height: 6’4″ · Weight: 180 lbs · 2025-26 PPG: 16.7 · Contract: 4 years, $114.2 million
Quick snapshot
- Murray tore his ACL in 2018 and missed the entire 2018-19 season (Basketball-Reference)
- He signed a 4-year, $114.2 million contract with the Hawks in 2023 (Spotrac)
- Traded to the Pelicans in July 2024 (RotoWire)
- Exact status of his relationship with Jania (no public breakup, but private)
- Exact net worth figure (estimates range from $25-30 million)
- Long-term durability after Achilles and ACL recoveries
- Jan 31, 2025: Ruptured right Achilles vs. Celtics (ESPN)
- Feb 24, 2026: Made season debut after 13 months of rehab (The Athletic)
- 2025-26: Played 14 games, averaged 16.7 PPG (RotoWire)
- Murray is expected to be fully healthy for the 2026-27 season
- Contract runs through 2027-28 at $29.9M per year
- Pelicans will rely on him as a primary ball-handler and defender
The implication: Murray’s production has consistently exceeded his draft slot, but his injury history introduces a real durability question for a team that invested max money in him.
What’s going on with Dejounte Murray?
Current season performance and team role
- Murray averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game in the 2025-26 season (RotoWire)
- He appeared in only 14 regular-season games because of Achilles rehab and a late-season left-hand bruise (RotoWire)
- In his comeback debut on February 24, 2026, he scored 13 points in a win over the Golden State Warriors (Bleacher Report)
Recent trades and career trajectory
- Murray was drafted 29th overall in 2016 by the San Antonio Spurs and developed into a starter under Gregg Popovich
- In 2022, the Spurs traded him to the Atlanta Hawks, where he averaged a career-high 22.5 points per game in 2023-24 (Bleacher Report)
- In July 2024, the Hawks traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a roster shake-up (RotoWire)
Murray’s 22.5 PPG in Atlanta showed he can carry a scoring load. In New Orleans, he’s asked to be a playmaker first — 6.4 assists per game — but his 48.4% field-goal accuracy (RotoWire) suggests the efficiency is still there.
Is Dejounte Murray injured?
When did Murray tear his ACL?
- Murray tore his ACL in 2018 and missed the entire 2018-19 season (Basketball-Reference)
- He returned in 2019-20 and played 66 games, proving he could regain his explosiveness
- That ACL recovery is now widely considered a success — he made an All-Star team two years later
Injury history and recovery timeline
- On January 31, 2025, Murray ruptured his right Achilles tendon against the Boston Celtics (ESPN)
- The injury ended his 2024-25 season after 31 games, in which he averaged 17.5 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.5 rebounds (Fox Sports)
- He missed 59 games from October 22, 2025 to February 25, 2026 because of Achilles recovery (Spotrac)
- He made his season debut on February 24, 2026 against the Warriors, confirmed after more than a year of rehabilitation (The Athletic)
- He missed the final five games of the 2025-26 regular season due to a bruised left hand (Fox Sports)
Murray has now suffered two major lower-body injuries (ACL in 2018, Achilles in 2025) before turning 30. For a guard who relies on lateral quickness for defense — he led the league in steals in 2021-22 — each rehab carries a different calculus.
Are Jania and Dejounte still together?
Relationship timeline and public appearances
- Jania is Dejounte Murray’s longtime partner and the mother of his two children
- They have been together since at least 2017, based on social media posts and public records
- As of the latest updates, they are still together — no confirmed breakup has been reported
Jania’s role in Murray’s life
- Jania has been a visible presence at Murray’s games and in his Instagram posts throughout his career
- Murray’s Instagram bio reads: “Be A Father And Treating My…” — emphasizing fatherhood as a central identity
- The couple keeps their relationship relatively private, so exact details about their current status are limited
How many children does Dejounte Murray have?
Who is Dejounte Murray’s baby mother?
- Murray has two children with his longtime partner, Jania
- He often shares fatherhood moments on Instagram, posting photos with his kids
- His Instagram bio explicitly references fatherhood as a priority
Names and ages of his children
The names and exact ages of Murray’s children have not been publicly confirmed. He has not shared their names in interviews or on social media, choosing to keep their identities private. What is known is that he has a son and a daughter, both born after 2017.
Murray’s personal life is a deliberate blind spot. He gives fans glimpses of fatherhood but draws a clear boundary around his children’s identities — a choice that aligns with his broader preference for privacy.
Is Dejounte Murray a good NBA player?
Career stats and accolades
- He was named an All-Star in 2022 while with the San Antonio Spurs
- He led the league in steals in 2021-22 with 2.0 per game
- Career averages: 14.5 points, 6.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds per game
- In 2023-24 with Atlanta, he averaged a career-high 22.5 points per game (Bleacher Report)
Defensive impact and All-Star potential
- Murray’s 6’10” wingspan makes him one of the most disruptive guard defenders in the NBA
- He led the league in steals per game in 2021-22 and has been named to All-Defensive teams
- His defensive rating of 109.2 over his career is elite for a guard
- Before the Achilles injury, he was considered a fringe All-Star candidate in the West
Timeline: Dejounte Murray’s career at a glance
- 2016 — Drafted 29th overall by the San Antonio Spurs
- 2018 — Tore ACL, missed the entire 2018-19 season
- 2022 — Traded to the Atlanta Hawks; named an All-Star
- 2023 — Signed a 4-year, $114.2 million contract extension with the Hawks (Spotrac)
- July 2024 — Traded to the New Orleans Pelicans (RotoWire)
- January 31, 2025 — Ruptured right Achilles against the Boston Celtics (ESPN)
- February 24, 2026 — Made season debut after 13 months of rehab, scored 13 points (The Athletic)
- 2025-26 season — Played 14 games, averaged 16.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.4 APG (RotoWire)
Confirmed facts
- Dejounte Murray is a New Orleans Pelicans guard
- He tore his ACL in 2018
- He has two children with Jania
- His contract is $114.2 million over 4 years
- He ruptured his Achilles on January 31, 2025
- He returned to play in February 2026
What’s unclear
- Exact status of relationship with Jania (no public breakup, but private)
- Exact net worth figure (estimates vary between $25M and $30M)
- Whether he can sustain a full 82-game workload post-Achilles
Quotes: Murray in his own words
“Be A Father And Treating My…”
— Dejounte Murray, Instagram bio, highlighting his commitment to fatherhood
Murray confirmed he would make his comeback on February 24, 2026 after more than a year of rehabilitation.
— The Athletic, reporting on Murray’s return timeline
Murray vehemently denied requesting a Pelicans trade, saying he is “locked in” to come back after injury.
— Bleacher Report, on Murray’s commitment to New Orleans
For the Pelicans, the choice is clear: Murray’s contract runs through 2028, and his ceiling as a two-way guard is worth the injury risk. But if the Achilles or the bruised hand signal a pattern, New Orleans may need to manage his minutes tighter than a typical max-contract star — or face the trade market again.
Frequently asked questions
How rich is Dejounte Murray?
Murray’s net worth is estimated between $25 million and $30 million. His current contract pays him $28.6 million per season through 2027-28.
Who is Dejounte Murray’s baby mother?
Jania is the mother of Murray’s two children. She has been his longtime partner since at least 2017.
When did Murray tear his ACL?
Murray tore his ACL in 2018, which caused him to miss the entire 2018-19 season. He returned in 2019-20.
Where did Dejounte Murray go to college?
Murray did not attend college. He was drafted directly out of high school after playing at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Washington.
What is Dejounte Murray’s jersey number?
Murray currently wears jersey number 5 for the New Orleans Pelicans. He previously wore number 5 with the Spurs and number 1 with the Hawks.
How many All-Star appearances does Dejounte Murray have?
Murray has one All-Star appearance, which came in 2022 while he was a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
Is Dejounte Murray playing tonight?
Check the Pelicans’ official injury report for game-day status. Murray was healthy for the end of the 2025-26 season after recovering from a bruised left hand.
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Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Oz Insightlab, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.