The Pelicans started the season with several injuries, but they're starting to return to full form.
The latest development: Trey Murphy III is set to make his season debut after being sidelined for the team's first 19 games.
Murphy suffered a knee injury in an offseason workout that required surgery. The Pelicans initially announced that he was expected to return to basketball activities in approximately 10-12 weeks, a timeline that was likely to keep him out until mid-to-late November.
Here's everything we know about Murphy's injury and the latest news on when he may return to the court.
What is Trey Murphy's injury?
On Sept. 5, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that Murphy suffered a meniscus injury to his left knee during a workout at the team's practice facility.
It wasn't clear initially if Murphy would require surgery. Two days later, the Pelicans announced that he underwent a "successful partial meniscectomy and received a biologic injection" in his injured knee.
How long will Trey Murphy be out?
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania and Will Guillory, there's optimism that Murphy will make his season debut against the Spurs on Friday, Dec. 1.
The No. 17 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Murphy is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him average 14.5 points on 40.6 percent shooting from 3-point range. He started in 65 of the 79 games he appeared in.
Murphy's play earned him Most Improved Player votes, landing in seventh place on the award ballot.
Prior to his injury, Murphy spent part of the 2023 offseason with USA Basketball's Select Team, a 12-man roster that practices and scrimmages against the senior team ahead of a major tournament.
Trey Murphy III career stats
- 10.5 points per game
- 3.0 rebounds per game
- 1.1 assists per game
- 0.8 steals per game
- 0.4 blocks per game
- 0.5 turnovers per game
- 46.1 percent field goal shooting
- 40.0 percent 3-point shooting
- 90.0 percent free throw shooting