Heading into the 2025-26 season, Trey Murphy III was widely expected to have a breakthrough All-Star level and turn his $112 million contract into one of the best in the league. Unfortunately for a struggling New Orleans Pelicans team, he looks lost and a shadow of his former self.
Through the first five games of the season, Murphy III’s stats tell a troubling story. He is averaging 13.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, with shooting percentages of just 36 percent from the field and an even more disappointing 30 percent from beyond the arc.
Sometimes, when players disappoint early in the season, fans and analysts may blame it on a temporary slump or the typical rust that occurs in the offseason. In Murphy’s case, however, it seems to go deeper. He doesn’t just miss shots; he shoots them with no confidence, and he plays with little to no aggression. Two things that would be crucial in his expected escape became reality.
After the way last season ended, I strongly believed that Murphy III would go a significant step further and even surpass Zion Williamson on many nights. His ability as a versatile scoring threat set the stage for what many hoped would be a dominant season. Instead, his current form raises concerns about his role in a team that is in desperate need of a second goalscorer alongside Williamson.
Maybe it’s not all Murphy III’s fault
While it’s hard to point the finger at anyone else for a player’s issues on the field, Willie Green has played a role in the way Murphy III has started this season. Green has done a mediocre job involving Murphy III in the team’s offense and has often simply left him standing around the edge. This lack of involvement in the Pelicans’ offense is reflected in Murphy III’s usage rate, which dropped 6 percent between last season and this season.
With the Pelicans off to an 0-5 start, Green’s tenure with the team is expected to come to an end very soon. A new set of eyes could not only revitalize the team’s overall performance, but could also play a crucial role in the development and revival of Trey Murphy III. Such a change could be the catalyst the Pelicans need to change the momentum and regain their competitive position in the league.
Although it’s only five games away, trends are everything in the NBA, and Murphy III’s future and prospects with the Pelicans are starting to look in the wrong direction. If he wants a chance to turn things around this season, a coaching shakeup may be the only way.
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