Jamal Murray, 5 years $158 million: Incredible bargain
The Nuggets’ second star is also on an incredibly attractive deal. Jokic’s sidekick, and the second-best and most important player on the defending NBA champions makes just over $33.8 million this season and will make a hair over $36 million next season in the final year of his current contract.
It’s fair to assume Murray will get a substantial raise at some point between now and then as he has vastly outperformed his contract and proven time and again that he deserves to be paid like one of the league’s best.
Unfortunately for Jamal, contracts are partly determined by regular-season accolades and achievements. Murray has missed a lot of time with injuries, has somehow never made an All-Star team, and plays his best basketball in the playoffs.
This is all excellent news for the Nuggets and is a big reason why they won a title, but it has hurt Murray in the wallet. His deal this year is extremely affordable for a legitimate number two star on a contender, and on a truly open market, he’d immediately make considerably more money.
He’s still just 27 years old and his career trajectory seems to be pointing up. I’m sure he’ll get a massive contract for the remainder of his prime that may not end up being such a bargain by the end of the deal.
But that’s a potential problem only for the distant future. For now, Murray is beyond worth every penny he makes, and what he’s done for the Denver Nuggets has earned him every dollar he’ll make and then some.