The Denver Nuggets are finally NBA Champions for the first time in the franchise’s history after defeating the Miami Heat in five games. Most of the attention is on two-time MVP and Finals MVP Nikola Jokic, deservedly so. However, the Nuggets wouldn’t have been in this position if it weren’t for the stellar play of Jamal Murray. The Canadian point guard thrived as a co-star throughout Denver’s championship run.
Jamal Murray: The Rise to NBA Superstar
In the five-game Finals series, Murray averaged 21.4 points, 10.0 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game on 45/39/93 shooting splits. The series was tied at 1-1 after the Heat stole game 2 in Denver. The Nuggets needed to win Game 3 in Miami.
In retrospect, that was the turning point in the series. Denver subsequently won the next two after. Jamal Murray had a phenomenal game, recording a triple-double with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists; this was no fluke for Murray, as he did it the entire Nuggets’ playoff run.
Amongst playoff teams, Denver finished first in offensive rating at 118.2. That was significantly above the rest of the teams and a significant reason they made their championship run. Murray’s offensive efficiency and playmaking certainly contributed to this.
Murray was the balanced point guard that teams covet – he was under control yet aggressive. He constantly looked to score and knew when was the right time to get teammates involved.
Jamal Murray’s History
2020 was when the NBA Bubble was enacted due to COVID-19. Teams were forced to quarantine as they played games in Walt Disney World. Jamal took on the nickname “Bubble Murray” with his electric play. In the 2020 Bubble playoffs, the Denver point guard averaged 26.5 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. He was highly efficient, shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three.
Murray had a solid career leading up to this point. But the NBA Bubble was when he took the league by storm as an emerging superstar.
In 2021, Murray suffered an unfortunate torn ACL in his left knee. The Nuggets also looked like a championship contender that season. At least before their star point guard’s injury. They ultimately were swept in the Western Conference Finals by the Phoenix Suns.
The following 2021-22 season, Murray missed the entire season as he was still in recovery. The Nuggets ultimately lost in the first round to the Golden State Warriors.
This season, Murray was able to play in 65 regular season games. As expected, he was off to a relatively slow start when the season opened, averaging only 13.8 points in October. However, as each month progressed, Murray returned closer to his old “Bubble Murray” ways.
From December through February, Murray increased his scoring average from 18.7 points per game to 25.2. By the time playoffs came around, Murray was ready to play the role of co-star in Denver’s championship run.
Murray’s best playoff series in their run came in the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. In Denver’s sweep, he averaged 32.5 points, 5.3 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game on 53/41/95 shooting splits. He recorded 37 points in two of the four games.
Last Word on the Nuggets
Denver could be a scary team for multiple years to come. Jokic is still in his prime at 28, and Murray is seemingly just entering his prime at 26. Offensively, Murray’s shooting ability makes him a perfect complementary co-star to play alongside Jokic and his playmaking. With a reliable co-star in Murray to play off of Jokic, the Nuggets have found a successful formula that is extremely hard to defend.
The Nuggets also constructed their roster by adding defense and athleticism to surround Jokic and Murray to compensate for their weaknesses. Additions throughout the past seasons like Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Bruce Brown were key for Denver’s run. We’ll see if they are able to retain their role players, as Brown is rumored to be declining his player option this offseason.
Overall, it’s exciting to see Jamal Murray return to his old ways. And a scary sight to see for the rest of the league, as evidenced by the Nuggets’ first championship in franchise history.
