Trey Murphy III Healthy and Humming Early for the Pelicans
Trey Murphy III opens the 2026-27 season off the injury report, playing in wins over Washington, Dallas and Oklahoma City. He's coming off a 2025-26 season where he averaged 21.5 points a game for New Orleans, and the Pelicans have eased him into October with lighter minutes so far.
By the Pelicans Nightly Desk · updated 4 d ago01The story of the nightNo Injury ConcernsMurphy is not on the injury report to start 2026-27, and he has no injury history on file.
Murphy is not on the injury report to start 2026-27, and he has no injury history on file. That clean bill of health matters for a Pelicans team trying to find a rhythm early in the season. He's been available for every game listed so far, logging minutes in wins over Washington, Dallas and Oklahoma City and in a loss to Miami. New Orleans will take a healthy Murphy at forward over almost anything else right now, given how much the offense can lean on him when he's on the floor and not dealing with anything held back for maintenance.
02Last Season by the NumbersIn 2025-26, Murphy played 66 games for New Orleans and averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals…
In 2025-26, Murphy played 66 games for New Orleans and averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.4 blocks in 35.5 minutes a night. He shot 47.0 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from three and 88.6 percent from the line, good for a 61.3 true shooting mark. His usage rate sat at 22.3 percent, showing he was a real option in the offense, not a complementary piece. The plus-minus came in at -2.6 for the season, a number worth watching as the Pelicans try to build a more competitive roster around him in 2026-27.
03Early Returns This SeasonMurphy's first four logged games of 2026-27 show a Pelicans team mixing results.
Murphy's first four logged games of 2026-27 show a Pelicans team mixing results. On October 16 against Washington, he scored 11 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 20.7 minutes in a win, though his plus-minus was -1.0. Two days earlier against Dallas, he managed just 5 points but added 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 18.6 minutes, posting a strong plus-11 in another win. Against Miami on October 8, he had 11 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists in 13.8 minutes in a loss. Against Oklahoma City on October 6, he scored 11 points with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in a win, despite a -20.0 plus-minus.
04The Stretch Run Before ThatMurphy's minutes were much heavier at the end of last season.
Murphy's minutes were much heavier at the end of last season. On April 3 against Sacramento, he scored 13 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 31.8 minutes in a loss. The day before against Portland, he put up 19 points and 8 rebounds in 36.4 minutes, also a loss. Against New York on March 24, he had 16 points and 6 rebounds in 35.5 minutes. Against Cleveland on March 21, he logged 40.5 minutes with 10 points and 6 rebounds. His best two games in this stretch came against the Clippers: 27 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists on March 19, then 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists on March 18, both wins.
05Profile and RoleMurphy is a 6-9, 220-pound forward out of Virginia, now in his fifth NBA season at age 26.
Murphy is a 6-9, 220-pound forward out of Virginia, now in his fifth NBA season at age 26. He wears number 25 for New Orleans. Last season's usage rate of 22.3 percent and his shooting splits across all three levels point to a wing who can score in multiple ways while still contributing on the boards and as a passer. The early-season minutes have been lighter than his last-season average of 35.5, but with no injury listed, that looks more like early-schedule management than anything to worry about.
