Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray is doing more than just hoopin’

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray is known for choosing his words intentionally. Such was the case when he described his career-best NBA season in progress.

“I’m just hoopin’,” Murray told Andscape.

Murray’s play has been of high importance for the Nuggets this season, especially with three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic and the other starters dealing with injuries this season.

Murray enters Wednesday’s game against the host Boston Celtics (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) averaging 25.4 points, 7.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 48% from the field and 44.7% from 3-point range — all career highs.

A 10-year NBA veteran, Murray scored 52 points in a win against the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 3. Murray was also named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Dec. 1-7.

“I’m just playing free, having fun,” Murray said. “Trying to get these guys organized. We have a great high-IQ team. So, it’s easy to bring them along. I want to have fun and play free, and that’s what the team is allowing me to do.”

Murray had an ankle injury and missed his second game of the season during Monday’s 125-124 overtime win against the Philadelphia 76ers. While the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder has been primarily healthy this season, more than opposing defenders the biggest challenge of Murray’s career has been his health.

In his first three NBA seasons from 2016-19, Murray played in 82, 81 and 75 games, respectfully. Since then, the 28-year-old has never played in more than 67 regular-season games. Murray tore his left ACL on April 12, 2021, which caused him to miss the 2021 playoffs and the entire 2021-22 NBA season. In 2023, Murray played in all 20 of the Nuggets’ playoff games en route to the franchise’s first NBA title while averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game.

“I was just banged up and playing through it, kind of going under the radar with it, doing everything I can, and sacrificing,” said Murray of his past injury woes.

In 2024, the Nuggets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals in seven games to end their title defense. Murray followed that by playing for Canada during the 2024 Paris Olympics, which included a disappointing quarterfinals loss to host France. Last season, the Nuggets lost in the Western Conference semifinals in seven games to the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

After last season, Murray said he took some much-needed time away from basketball. Nuggets head coach David Adelman said the time off has been key to Murray’s success this season, physically and mentally.

“It was this summer. Him figuring out what he needed to be prepared for the season,” Adelman said. “In other summers, maybe he worked too hard. And in other summers, he thought if I took time off like the old vets back in the day, ‘I’ll be fine.’ This summer there was a really good balance. Not just the physical, the mental, too.

“He had a very clear mind. Leadership was great all summer. It just continued into the season. He’s not fighting, he’s playing. What is there is there. It’s fun to watch him play out there. He just seems loose and free out there.”

Said Murray: “After the season ended, I didn’t do anything for at least a month. Then I just got back into lifting, running. I started just taking care of my body without the basketball. So, [I tried to] kind of get my mind away from basketball, but still got my body in shape and just built my momentum. …

“So, now I’m back healthy. I’m good. I’m in a good space and now I’m just playing and it’s noticeable.”

What is also noticeable is that Murray has never been an NBA All-Star.

Murray was 16th (260,014) in the Western Conference in the second fan returns in All-Star balloting of 2026. Murray will most likely have to be voted in as an All-Star reserve from the West coaches to make the first-ever World Team roster. Under a new NBA All-Star Game format, two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players (the World) will compete in a round-robin tournament on Feb. 15 in Los Angeles.

When asked if he was still dreaming about making the All-Star Team, Murray said: “All-Star, everything. Scoring champ. MVP. All of it.”

The Nuggets are needing all of it from Murray due to their extensive injuries. Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson — all starters —have missed time to injuries this season. Murray’s leadership and Denver’s depth have led the franchise to a 24-12 record, good for fourth in the Western Conference

Murray is confident that a healthy Nuggets roster can get back to a championship level.

“It’s going to take consistency, details, effort, just being dialed in on a nightly basis,” Murray said. “There’s a lot of good teams in the West, so I feel like we’ve got to bring it every night. Once we bring it every night, everything will take care of itself.”

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