Denver Nuggets star makes concerning FIBA World Cup move

There’s one less NBA star competing in the FIBA World Cup. Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray is withdrawing from the competition, as he needs “additional recovery” after a long grueling championship season, according to Canada Basketball.

“When I came into training camp, I wanted to see how my body would respond after a long and demanding season and if I would be physically able to compete at the highest level required for the World Cup,” Murray said in a statement, per Canada Basketball. “In consultation with medical staff and the team, it is clear that additional recovery is required, and I have made the difficult decision to not participate in the tournament. It’s still a dream of mine to represent Canada at the Olympics, and I will support the team every step of the way as they pursue this goal.”

Murray played 65 regular-season games and 20 playoff games last year, after missing the entire 2021-22 campaign with an ACL tear.

His decision to sit out of the World Cup seems to be a move made solely as a precaution, but it’s not ideal for one of Denver’s stars to not be feeling “physically able” to compete, just over a month before training camp starts.

Jamal Murray is crucial to Denver Nuggets’ championship repeat hopes

If Murray was dealing with some larger issue than just recovery, it would be a tough blow for the Denver Nuggets. The Canadian guard played a crucial role in the team’s first-ever NBA championship last spring, averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. He was efficient as well, knocking down 47.3% of his attempts from the field and 39.6% of those from distance.

There’s been increased hope that the 2023-24 season could be a big one for Murray. Many fans and media members believe that he is due to be selected to his first NBA All-Star team. If healthy, there’s no doubt that Murray will be able to build off of an impressive 2022-23 campaign.