Draymond Green claims that Zion Williamson is not their leader

Due to injuries at New Orleans in 2025-26 The Pelicans, reeling from Zion Williamson’s latest setbackGolden State Warriors’ Draymond Green says a team missing their leader, Dejounte Murray, is their main problem. Jordan Poole is expected to miss some games because of a strained quad. However, that’s not the player Green alluded to who can turn New Orleans’ regular season around.

For Green, the Pelicans’ leader is Murray, whose return is planned for January it can’t come soon enough for a 2-6 team, Green said, according to the Draymond Green Show.

“You’re fighting an uphill battle. When your best players aren’t healthy, it’s an uphill battle,” Green said. “Dejounte’s (Murray) still gone. Dejounte is the leader of that team. Make no mistake about it. Like every other team he’s ever been on, Dejounte Murray is the leader of that team. Find me any team in the NBA that’s missing their leader.”

Green adds that while most teams want their best player to be their designated leader, that’s not always the case, with the Pelicans being a great example of that by having Murray complement Zion Williamson.

“In this league, we always want the best player to be the leader,” Green said. “So everybody wants Zion (Williamson) to be a leader, but Zion is not a leader. Dejounte Murray is the leader of that team. Find me any team that loses their leader, I’ll show you a team that more than likely will contend.”

Murray tore his Achilles tendon in his first year with the Pelicans last season. He was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Pelicans before the 2024-25 campaign, eager for a fresh start in New Orleans. Unfortunately, Murray joined the growing list of NBA players whose season ended with a ruptured Achilles, including All-Star Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and Tyreese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers.

Jordan Poole will miss time with a quad strain

Pelicans guard Jordan Poole has started in four of his seven appearances on the season, but suffered a strained quad that could keep him out for up to two weeks.

The Pelicans announced the extent of Poole’s injury on their X, formerly Twitter.

“Jordan Poole has been diagnosed with a mild left vastus lateralis (quad) strain. Poole will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days and further updates will be provided as appropriate,” the Pelicans announced.

Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears, who earned the starting job through Poole, will most likely see a jump in playing time.