Following a shaky start to the season, the Denver Nuggets have begun to round into form. They have been carried by MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, who is having the best season of his career, as well as a more balanced offensive attack.
Be that as it may, they need more from their $200+ million star, Jamal Murray. Murray hasn't been the same player that he was during their 2021 championship run, and that has been a problem for the Nuggets.
He is intended to be their second-best player but has arguably been their third-best player behind Michael Porter Jr. this season. To Murray's credit, he is averaging 19.8 points and 6 assists per game and had a big game recently, dropping 45 points against the shorthanded Dallas Mavericks.
However, Porter Jr. is putting up comparable scoring numbers on much better efficiency. In fact, one can argue that Russell Westbrook has been equally as impactful as Murray, albeit on a far cheaper deal.
That is not to mention that he is seven years older than Murray and no longer has elite athleticism to fall back on. Murray has had some big games recently but still doesn't look anywhere near his peak, and there is a question about whether he will be able to return to that level this season or ever.
Should the Denver Nuggets be concerned about Jamal Murray?
The Nuggets gambled big on Murray when they signed him to a four-year, $208 million extension last summer. This after a lackluster showing in the playoffs outside of the Lakers series and in the Olympics playing for Team Canada.
He spent the summer playing basketball, looked hobbled at times, and had little time to recover, which hasn't helped him thus far with him still looking far from 100%. With Westbrook able to soak up minutes at point guard, Coach Mike Malone should look to rest Murray as needed until he is physically 100%.
Denver can afford to strategically rest Murray in certain games in the hopes that he will return to his peak level. If he can't return to that level, then that could be a problem considering that he is set to make at least $45 million over the next four seasons.
The chances that he doesn't live up to that contract are admittedly high, but the Nuggets don't have much of a choice. He has to play well if the Nuggets have any chance of making another deep playoff run.
On the bright side, if he can play well when it counts, then he, a dominant Jokic, and Porter Jr., who is having a strong season, could help carry the Nuggets back to the NBA Finals. That depends largely on Murray, however.