Nuggets fans have had very little to complain about this year. The offseason moves have worked out, the new front office and coaching staff seem great, and Nikola Jokic appears to be on his way to another MVP Award. But perhaps the biggest positive so far this season has been the stellar play of Jamal Murray.
Murray talked the talk over the summer, and now he’s walking the walk. He came into camp in great shape and has been ready to go from the jump. He’s averaging 25.4 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game, all of which are career highs by a good margin.
Even more impressively, he’s doing it on ridiculous efficiency, boasting near 50/40/90 splits and shooting an absurd 45.7% on 7.7 three-point attempts per game. It’s everything fans have wanted to see for years, and he’s finally putting it all together on a nightly basis.
The consistency has truly been the best part, as the best stat of all is that Jamal has played in 30 of the team’s 31 games to this point. He looks as athletic and energetic as ever, and has upped his workload while somehow raising his efficiency.
Murray should be lock for first All-Star game
The years of Murray being hailed as the best player to never make an All-Star game should finally come to an end. This season, Murray has the statistical case, his play matches the eye test, and he’s been instrumental in leading the Nuggets to a 22-9 record in a loaded Western Conference despite missing multiple starters for most of the year.
Jokic is getting all the glory and attention, and rightfully so, but this season, Murray has been a very worthy co-star to the best player in the world. Regardless of format, Jamal has been one of the best 10-20 players in the league this season with the stats, consistency, and winning to back it up.
All-Star voting is upon us, and the game is right around the corner, so that’s the focus of the moment. But if Murray can keep this up over the course of the season, and given the players who will likely fall short of the games played threshold, there’s a real chance we’re talking about Jamal for an All-NBA spot.
So, whether it’s the 12 best players in the West or the 8 best international players, Murray deserves to be in the conversation. He has checked every box, quietly going about his business, and it’s time for him to get some recognition.