Denver Nuggets: What if Jamal Murray takes another leap?

As the Denver Nuggets enter 2019-20, Jamal Murray expects a huge role which could reveal his full potential when the light is bright green.

The Denver Nuggets believe in Jamal Murray, so much so they offered him a five-year, $170 million maximum extension, declining to play hardball with their 22-year-old guard.

He’ll be locked up for the long-term, as will franchise cornerstone Nikola Jokic, who has four years and over $120 million left on his own gargantuan extension. This gives Denver a strong foundational duo for the foreseeable future.

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The two play different styles, as Murray is a more traditional, high-scoring guard who combines silky shooting with gritty drives and a killer mid-range game. Jokic, meanwhile, is all about the team game, as his 7.3 assists per contest led centers last season.

Jokic’s 20.1 points per game could increase a bit for 2019-20, but nothing dramatic should happen here, as any additional touches will likely go towards diming teammates.

Murray could be looking at a different situation, as his game is more conducive to big-time baskets, supreme scoring spurts, and flashy highlights, like this crossover on Steven Adams:

Murray has a reasonable chance to score in the high numbers every night. The kicker … Denver has great rhythm during these games, as they were 7-0 when he scored 30 points or more last season.

Big-game upside is often overlooked in the NBA, but remains very important nonetheless, as it separates Stephen Curry and the A-list from someone like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Kidd-Gilchrist (and equivalent players) can be solid contributors on both ends, but no one suspects they’ll go for 40 and change the game.

Curry, meanwhile, is no stranger to big scoring outputs, as shown by his 51-point affair against the Washington Wizards last season, a performance that forced Washington to toss their game plan and focus all efforts on stopping him.

Murray has a poor man’s Curry makeup, proving he’s capable of taking over a game at any time. He showed this even during his rookie season, posting eight contests with 20+ points, despite some potholes during this initial campaign.

Fast-forward to 2018-19, Murray not only hit the 20-point mark more frequently, he actually averaged over 20 points per contest throughout Denver’s entire 14-game postseason.

This includes his stellar semifinals, in which he averaged 23.6 points per game as the Nuggets battled the Portland Trail Blazers in a neck-and-neck series.

Prior to this in the first round, Murray scored 21 points in the 4th quarter to lift Denver to an improbable Game 2 win over the San Antonio Spurs, changing the series with a barrage of buckets that left Gregg Popovich looking confusedly down the sidelines.

Last season, Murray scored 20 points or better 29 times, showing he is developing consistency to go along with his big-game threat. His seven 30+ point games prove his haymakers are growing deadlier.

Which begs certain questions, such as: What if his consistency continues to develop in 2019-20? And what if the haymakers keep intensifying?

If Murray increases his scoring a notch and carries his 21.3 points per game over from the playoffs, he may very well become the main fourth quarter guy, even relieving Jokic from much of his scoring duties in this segment.

In fact, Murray already demonstrated fourth quarter excellence multiple times last postseason, managing key buckets down the stretch when Denver needed them most.

And in the NBA, if something is accomplished in the playoffs, it usually has a decent chance to stick, as opposing defenses are generally at their best during this time.

Picture a scenario where the Nuggets play “Jokic ball” for the first three quarters, moving and cutting around their All-Star center. Jokic is diming, and Murray is scoring at a reasonable pace, allowing the squad’s depth to be fully utilized.

Then once the fourth quarter hits, Murray does his best Kobe imitation and brings it home for the Mile High squad, splashing clutch shots and confidently leading Denver in a toe-to-toe format against the opponent’s top scorer.

Hardcore NBA watchers see Murray’s game is built for the fourth quarter, as he hits consistently from mid-range, handles the rock, scores from deep and finishes smoothly at the rim.

The best part is Murray’s game doesn’t need monumental growth to get to this point, as his fourth quarter poise already well exceeds his years.

If Murray eliminates his late turnovers while upping his basketball IQ, look for big things as he plays the role of Denver’s closer. He already has the tools, makeup and confidence, which Denver should be grateful for.

In short, Murray’s next jump could be huge for the Nuggets, as he’s a half-step away from stardom and has a tantalizing knack for big games.

Combine this with his fourth-quarter prowess and the Nuggets could have another legitimate superstar to play alongside Jokic, forming an electric 1-2 punch.