In last year’s NBA playoffs, Jamal Murray, slowed by a calf strain among other lingering physical issues, averaged 20.6 points per game on 40.2 percent shooting (31.5 percent from three-point range), well below his numbers the year before when he helped the Nuggets win an NBA title.
At the Paris Olympics, the situation was worse. The Canadian point guard averaged 6 points per game on 29% shooting, including 14.3% from three-point range, and he turned over a team-high 2.3 balls per game as the Canadians went home scoreless.
All these approximate numbers are due to the fact that Murray is still playing through injuries and is not at 100%, Denver President Josh Kroenke told The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando:.
“When you’re playing against the best in the world, whether it’s the NBA playoffs or the Olympics, you’re going to get the best (of your opponents). And if you’re not 100 percent and you know you want to be on the court, you’re going to try to fight like Jamal does…”
“But I know he wasn’t 100 percent. I know getting him back out there is a big step toward the Jamal who was having triple-doubles in the NBA Finals.”
That’s what you expect from a team president: to defend his star players and put a positive spin on things. That said, if Denver wants to return to the Finals with a team that relies heavily on young players like Christain Braun and Peyton Watson for depth, it’s going to need the Jamal Murray of the 2023 playoffs.
Denver is willing to bet that Murray will return. Earlier this offseason, Murray and the Nuggets have reportedly agreed to a four-year extension worth up to $208.5 million.However, the details of this contract were still under discussion and were put on hold until after the Olympics. This contract has not yet been finalized and signed.
It’s pretty simple: The Nuggets are title contenders as long as they have Nikola Jokic at the top of his game, but the team isn’t as deep and doesn’t have the margin for error it did just a few seasons ago. That means, among other things, that the Nuggets need Murray healthy and in top form to make it all work. They’re on pace to pay him like an All-Star and All-NBA player — accolades that have eluded him but are within his reach if healthy — and he needs to live up to that standard for Denver to have a chance.
