New Orleans Pelicans X-Factor For The 2025-26 Season - Trey Murphy III

In just four seasons, Trey Murphy III has gone from being a supporting role player to being a focal point in the New Orleans Pelicans' starting lineup. With Zion Williamson questionable in his availability year after year, Brandon Ingram now in Toronto, CJ McCollum shipped to Washington, D.C., and Dejounte Murray on the sidelines recovering from a torn Achilles until early 2026, the Pelicans have suddenly become Murphy’s team.

Coming off a career-best season last year, averaging 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, Murphy’s coming-out party was cut short to just 53 games due to a torn labrum and rotator cuff. Fully healthy entering the 2025-26 preseason, the 25-year-old wing enters this season with three goals in mind: cementing his status as a leader of the Pelicans, helping the team return to the playoffs, and earning his first trip to the All-Star Game.

Last season's departure of Ingram created more opportunity and responsibility for Murphy. Stepping into a featured scoring role with increased shot opportunities, the 6’8” forward from North Carolina found himself as one of the Pelicans’ primary scoring options on a nightly basis.

Murphy and the Pelicans' biggest challenge remains playing with the uncertainty of whether or not Williamson is healthy and available. When the former first overall pick is on the court, he is one of the league’s most explosive players, demanding that defenses focus on him while creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. However, Williamson’s well-documented injury history means that Murphy must be ready to handle the offensive focus on any given night and often stretches of multiple games.

It’s not just the numbers that make Murphy a key component of the Pelicans’ roster. With McCollum and Ingram gone, Murphy is the second-longest-tenured player on the team. For a young roster (aside from Kevon Looney and Murray), the Pelicans need a reliable and mature player to set the tone both on and off the court. While many expect the Pelicans to struggle once again this season, Murphy’s continued development into a team leader could make them a surprise team in the Western Conference.