Jamal Murray
The fact that Jamal Murray has zero All-Star appearances to date is – stay with me now – an inevitability and a surprise.
On the one hand: When you’re in the same conference as Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, and Devin Booker, it’s going to be very difficult to crack that guard rotation in the All-Star Game. On the other hand, many fans remain bamboozled as to how Murray – a magnificent scorer and fiery competitor – could possibly be snubbed from the All-Star Game that many times.
Now, as Murray walks into the 2023-2024 season with a championship ring on his finger, voters will find it difficult to argue against his inclusion. Depending on how his Western Conference rivals perform in the first three months of the season, Murray could even be in a position to claim a starting spot for that February 18 showcase.
Buoyed by the extra boost of confidence that an NBA title brings, Murray will likely surpass last season’s averages of 20 points on 45.4% from the field (and just a smidge under 40% from 3-point range). If Murray secures an All-Star nod, he and Nikola Jokic could become the first Nuggets tandem to make the All-Star team since Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups in 2010.