Denver Nuggets: Jamal Murray in-depth 2019-20 projections

Defense

This is a weakness in Jamal Murray’s game, as he’s one of the Denver Nuggets’ worst defensive guards. He posted a 108.0 defensive rating last year, which trailed every starter besides Will Barton, who was slowed by injury.

The worst of Murray’s struggles occurred in Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs, when Derrick White outscored him 36-6. As a result, Gary Harris switched to cover White for the remainder of the series.

One silver lining, Murray tallied three or more steals in seven contests last season. Denver was 5-2 in these games and it was nice to see him active on defense.

Murray should improve slightly on the stopping end for 2019-20, but this will likely remain a weakness. His best option is to focus on defensive development this offseason.

Overall

Overall, look for Murray to make a solid jump in several facets for 2019-20. His biggest improvement should come by way of scoring, as he’ll likely improve his consistency and volume. Nuggets fans should be encouraged by Murray’s pick-and-roll with Jokic in the playoffs.

His passing and shooting also made solid strides, as he’s become proficient in each. It was cool to see him reduce turnovers over the course of 2018-19. Meanwhile, the mid-range pull-up has flourished to comprise part of his identity.

Barring some necessary defensive improvements, Murray is set to be a solid player for the foreseeable future. Is he worth a max contract? This is yet be determined. Nonetheless, Denver was probably smart to lock him up long-term, especially considering lack of free agency migration.