Jamal Murray has continued to be a staple in the Denver Nuggets rotation, helping the team win a championship just a few years ago. Murray’s tough shot-making couldn’t go unnoticed during the Nuggets’ championship run, as he was just as important outside of any player on the roster not named Nikola Jokic.
Ultimately, the Nuggets will continue to be one of the top teams in the NBA because of Jokic, but if Murray doesn’t show up in crucial moments, Denver might not be able to accomplish what it’s looking to.
With his contract also playing a factor in that, currently playing on a four-year, $207.8 million deal in remaining money, some believe that he’s the most overpaid player in the NBA, including Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation, who questioned if he can still be good enough to be a second option on a championship team.
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“Murray is more important to the league’s championship picture than almost any other player in the NBA. Is Murray still good enough to be the second-best player on a championship team? That’s the big question for a player who has still never been an All-Star, and already seems to be declining a bit physically.
“Murray had a rough stretch in the 2024 playoffs, and he was more solid than spectacular in Denver’s 2025 postseason run. The Nuggets desperately need him to perform like the big shot playoff hero he’s been in the past, and that requires him to be in tip-top shape. The Nuggets have more firepower around Jokic this year with Cameron Johnson leading a foursome of new additions, but this is only a championship contender if Murray is near his peak,” he wrote.
Until Murray proves he can’t be a second option on a championship team, it might be unfair to say.
Remember now, had the Nuggets gotten past the Oklahoma City Thunder after losing to them in seven games last season, there was a good chance they would’ve won another championship.
Murray would’ve played a significant factor in that.
