Is it time that we started taking Jamal Murray seriously? Has Murray become a legitimate NBA star with the talent to carry a team in the playoffs? Murray has been explosive since the restart and has played phenomenally in the Nuggets round one matchup against the Jazz. The duel between him and Donovan Mitchell has been amazing to watch and has made the Jazz/Nuggets matchup one of the best, if not the best, playoff matchup. But are we ready to put Murray in the star category?
Improvement
Murray was taken with the 7th overall pick by the Nuggets in the 2016 NBA Draft. He isn’t the first guy that you think of from that class. Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, and Jaylen Brown were the first three picks of that draft respectively and have had more personal success than Murray. Murray’s numbers, including before the restart, don’t seem that impressive. But there has been an improvement in his usage, per game averages, and his efficiency.
It’s been in the Bubble that Murray has flourished, and even more so in the playoffs. Murray scored more than 30 points in four games, including 2 50 pieces and a 40 piece. This is all with a solid roster around him and arguably the best center in the league in Jokic. Murray is able to get any shot he wants because he’s that crafty. He has split most double teams sent to him and has broken down Utah’s defense. Murray displays everything a team wants in their lead guard and it is beautiful to watch.
Has a Star Been Born?
I think Jamal Murray may be a star in the making. Murray needs to show me more during the regular season, but I can’t ignore what he’s done in the playoffs. He’s scoring a high number of points at an efficient rate. But it’s not just his scoring. He can find the open man, create space for himself and others, and pushes the ball on the break, where the Nuggets are the most effective. This dude is balling right now. If he can keep this up, he’ll be an All-Star next season.
