Denver Nuggets’ Mike Malone: “Jamal Murray is our starter”

Media Day for the Denver Nuggets has arrived, and Mike Malone is already making one thing known about Jamal Murray.

Mike Malone has coached the Nuggets for three years now, and has considerably improved each year. He’s been a head coach now for a while, and he knows what he wants to make clear this early; Jamal Murray will be the starting point guard for the Denver Nuggets this season.

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The Nuggets made a bit of a splash this off-season by resigning Will Barton, Nikola Jokic, and signing former All-Star Isaiah Thomas to a veteran’s minimum, something that I never expected.

Nevertheless, many thought that with Malone liking Isaiah Thomas as much as he does would mean that IT could start for the young team this season. I mean, why not, they’re trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2013, why not throw in an experienced guy?

Wait, why would they do that? Why would they stunt the growth of Jamal Murray, now entering his third season as an NBA guard, and who made a huge jump from his rookie season to his second season? Why would they move to a guy who’s coming off of a hip injury and will probably leave the Nuggets next season?

Of course, that’s not a shot at IT, I’ve been a major fan of him since he was a King, not just a Celtic. I think that he has some left in the tank as well, and it’s going to be fun to see him back on the court. He still is recovering from his hip injury, and the Nuggets don’t have a timetable for him to return.

I hope that Isaiah Thomas comes out and sets the league on fire off of the bench this year. He’s definitely been through the wringer in his time as an NBA player, whether it’s being traded several times, playing in the NBA Playoffs with an injured hip and still torching teams, or even playing in the playoffs after the tragic death of his sister, Chyna. IT is a warrior, and will not be denied on his return.

With that being said, I like the decision of starting Jamal Murray. He’s done everything Malone has asked him to do since he got there, and has improved steadily. He’s been getting more experience in the locker room, and is continually becoming more of a leader on the team. Murray is more confident, and can make the step with Gary Harris to become one of the best back-courts in the NBA.

Why should Coach Malone abandon that?