Denver Nuggets: Jamal Murray has cemented himself as a superstar

Jamal Murray is a superstar and has transformed the Denver Nuggets into a contender

There might not be a player that has made a bigger name for himself in the NBA’s restart bubble than Jamal Murray. What Murray has done over the course of the playoffs is not something that will be forgotten heading into next season. Quite frankly, it’s not something that should be forgotten ever.

I would go on to say that what he’s accomplished in the playoffs has changed the trajectory of the rest of his career. Heading into the NBA’s restart, Murray was viewed as a good young player. In last year’s playoffs, he had a couple of impressive, clutch performances. Ultimately, they were viewed as somewhat of a disappointment in the playoffs a year ago, however.

In this year’s playoffs, though, there are no doubts about Murray. Helping carry the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals isn’t an accomplishment that should be viewed lightly.

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During the postseason, Murray has erupted and has challenged Nikola Jokic as the Nuggets’ best player on the roster. On most nights, he was even the best player on the floor. In Denver’s first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz, Murray had three-straight games in which he scored at least 40 points. In two of those games, he scored 50.

For the series, Murray averaged 32 points, six assists, and six rebounds on 53 percent shooting from the field and 49 percent shooting from 3-point range.

In the team’s Western Conference Semifinals matchup against the LA Clippers, Murray picked up where he left off and helped finish off LA with a 40-point performance in Game 7. Through three games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Murray has averaged 25 points, seven assists, and five rebounds per game on 53 percent shooting from the field and 44 percent shooting from 3-point range.

What he’s done during this playoff run is absolutely amazing and, quite frankly, unpredictable. Entering the playoffs, most of the attention was on Jokic. However, Jamal Murray has been just as vital to the team’s success.

He’s quickly transforming into a certified superstar and he’s doing it on the biggest stage against arguably the biggest franchise in all of North American sports. In Game 3, we saw just that as Jamal Murray delivered a dagger 3 with roughly one minute remaining in the game en route to 28 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds.

Jamal Murray has played himself into the point where when he takes a shot in crunch time, you all but expect it to go in. There’s something special going on in Denver with this Nuggets team and it’s time we recognize what’s happening.

Many will point to this year’s playoffs is a fluke, considering the Nuggets – and not the Clippers – are in the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers. However, maybe this Nuggets team, led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, is a true championship contender.

Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are legit superstars. That makes the Denver Nuggets a real threat in the Western Conference.