ESPN recently released the 2025 edition of the NBA Rank series, in which it lists the top 100 players in the Association. The rankings are based on projections for who will have the better season in 2025-26, and six different Denver Nuggets players made the cut.
Unfortunately, point guard Jamal Murray continued to be underrated when ESPN projected a 15-spot drop from their 2024 rankings and a narrow inclusion in the top 50.
Murray, 28, is widely regarded as one of the best players to never receive an All-Star Game selection. Between his star-caliber production, top-tier efficiency, and elite showings in the playoffs, his résumé will earn him a place in history—but an All-Star nod remains elusive nevertheless.
The NBA Rank series seemingly projected another season on the outside looking in, as Murray was ranked at No. 46—down 15 places from No. 31 in 2024.
That steep decline still puts Murray among the 50 best players in the NBA, but seems to rule out his status as a 2026 All-Star. It also seemingly implies that Murray is in the midst of a decline while those around him are ascending.
Denver has given Murray everything he needs to silence the critics and become an All-Star, but it appears as though winning skeptics over and earning their respect will be an uphill battle.
ESPN ranks Jamal Murray as 46th best player in NBA—down 15 spots
Murray finished the 2024-25 regular season averaging 21.4 points, 6.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.3 three-point field goals made on .474/.393/.886 shooting. He was one of just 10 players to average at least 20.0 points, 6.0 assists, 1.0 steal, and 2.0 three-point field goals made per game.
Every one of the other nine players were All-Stars in 2024-25: Cade Cunningham, Stephen Curry, Darius Garland, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, and Trae Young.
In addition to posting numbers that should've equated to All-Star status, Murray helped Denver secure its third consecutive 50-win season. During that three-year stretch, Murray has averaged 20.9 points, 6.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.5 three-point field goals made on .470/.404/.859 shooting.
Murray also averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 3.0 three-point field goals made during the Nuggets' run to the 2023 NBA championship.
It's also worth noting that Murray averaged 36.1 minutes per game in 2024-25—the eighth-most of any qualifying player in the NBA. That speaks volumes to his importance to a 50-win team that had no other player but Nikola Jokic ranked in the top 35 in minutes per contest.
Despite being valuable to the point that a 50-win team felt uncomfortable playing even 12 minutes per game without him on the court, Murray barely cracked the top 50 of the ESPN NBA Rank.
It's effectively the story of Murray's career, as no matter how profoundly valuable he proves to be, fitting accolades never seem to arrive. Perhaps it's the unfortunate nature of playing with a player as dominant and influential as Nikola Jokic, but there should be enough nuance in the conversation to give Murray his due.
If nothing else, Murray has just been handed yet another piece of bulletin board material for what should be a massive 2025-26 campaign.