Jamal Murray just snapped a wild Nuggets streak that only Jokic kept alive

For the first time in his career, Denver Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray was named the Western Conference's Player of the Week on Monday. Not only is it his first time winning the award, but per Nuggets PR, it's the first time since 2018 (Paul Millsap) that a Denver player other than Nikola Jokić has won it.

Murray averaged 29.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds during the week (Dec. 1-7), shooting 59.5% from the field and 62.1% from three.

The Nuggets went 3-1 last week, with their one loss coming against the Mavericks last Monday, when Murray left the game with an ankle sprain. He bounced back two nights later with a 52-point performance (19-of-25 from the field, 10-of-11 from three) in Denver's 135-120 win over Indiana. It was the first of three road wins for the team during the week.

Murray had 23 points and 12 assists against the Hawks on Friday, and then dropped 23 points in the first quarter of the Nuggets' 115-106 win over the Hornets on Sunday. He finished with 34 points (14-of-25) against Charlotte.

Jamal Murray wins NBA Western Conference Player of the Week

Murray is averaging a career-best 25 points, 6.8 assists, 4.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this season, shooting 50.6% from the field (on a career-high 18 attempts per game) and 44.7% from three (on a career-high 7.3 attempts per game). He has played in all but one game for the Nuggets, averaging 35 minutes per contest.

The version of Murray Denver has seen during the first quarter of the season certainly isn't the one fans grew used to seeing. There was no slow start for Murray, as he started the season in great shape, not having to rehab an injury over the summer. He didn't have any other basketball duties, like the Olympics, to deal with, either.

He is one of the top players in the NBA who has never made an All-Star team, but that honor could end this season, too. It's not like Murray needs an All-Star honor to prove who he is, as he has a championship that should tell you all you need to know, but it'd be nice for Denver to have another All-Star.

If Murray keeps it up, he could spend a weekend in Los Angeles in February, and maybe by that time, he will have won another Player of the Week award, too. Let's get crazy!