Jamal Murray performance in the last NBA playoffs and the Paris Olympics left much to be desired, and there’s a good reason for that: the Canadian guard has been battling injuries and isn’t fully healthy. Murray, who was a key player in the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 championship run, struggled in the 2024 playoffs, averaging 20.6 points per game on just 40.2% shooting and 31.5% from beyond the arc—numbers that were significantly lower than his output during the Nuggets’ title-winning season.
His struggles continued at the Paris Olympics, where Murray averaged only 6 points per game on 29% shooting, including a dismal 14.3% from three-point range. Additionally, he averaged a team-high 2.3 turnovers per game as Canada failed to secure a medal. According to Denver Nuggets’ president, Josh Kroenke, these underwhelming performances can be attributed to the fact that Murray is still dealing with lingering injuries.
“When you’re going against the best in the world, whether it’s in the NBA playoffs or in the Olympics, you’re gonna get (opponents’) best shot. And if you’re not 100% and you know you want to be out there still, you’re gonna try to fight through it like Jamal is…But I know he wasn’t 100%. I know getting him back there is a big step toward seeing the Jamal who was throwing up triple-doubles in the NBA Finals,” Kroenke explained to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post.
Kroenke’s comments highlight the importance of Murray’s health for the Nuggets’ future success. With the team leaning more on younger players like Christian Braun and Peyton Watson to provide depth, a fully healthy and peak-performing Murray is essential for the Nuggets to return to the NBA Finals. Denver is optimistic about Murray’s return to form, as evidenced by their reported agreement on the broad terms of a four-year, $208.5 million max extension for him. However, the final details of this contract were postponed until after the Olympics and have yet to be finalized.
The equation is straightforward: as long as the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic at the height of his powers, they remain title contenders. However, with less depth than in previous seasons, the margin for error has shrunk, making Murray’s health and performance crucial. The Nuggets are prepared to pay Jamal Murray like an All-Star and All-NBA player—accolades that have eluded him so far but are within reach if he can stay healthy. For Denver to have a real shot at another championship, they need Murray to live up to this standard.
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