Basketball is a game of rhythm. If you ask anyone in Colorado, they’ll tell you that when Jamal Murray finds his, there isn't a defender on the planet who can actually stop him. But finding that rhythm has been a strange, zig-zagging journey lately. Honestly, it’s been a rollercoaster. One night he looks like the best second option in NBA history, and the next, he's struggling to create separation against a physical wing defender.
He’s currently averaging about 25.8 points and 7.5 assists per game in this 2025-26 season. Those are career-high numbers. Yet, the conversation around him is never just about the box score. It's about the "Playoff Murray" mythos versus the reality of his health.
The $208 Million Question
Back in September 2024, the Denver Nuggets backed up the Brink’s truck. They signed Murray to a four-year, $208 million maximum contract extension. It was a massive commitment. Some critics pointed to his lackluster performance for Team Canada in the Paris Olympics, where he averaged a meager 6.0 points on 29% shooting. He looked heavy. He looked a step slow.
But Denver didn't blink.
The front office knows what the rest of the league fears. They remember the "Bubble Murray" who traded 50-point games with Donovan Mitchell. They remember the 2023 championship run where he became only the fourth player in history to average 20 points and 10 assists in a Finals series.
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You don't let a guy like that walk. Even if his regular season is a series of "wait and see" moments, his ceiling is higher than almost any guard in the West.
Why stats don't tell the whole story
If you look at his career averages, you might wonder why he hasn't made an All-Star team yet. 18.4 points per game? Solid, but not elite. However, this year—2026—is different. With Nikola Jokic recently sidelined by a knee injury, Murray has been forced into the primary creator role.
He responded by dropping a career-high 55 points against Portland.
That game was vintage Murray. He was hitting step-back threes from the logo. He was chirping at the Blazers bench. When he’s "mad," as teammate Zeke Nnaji puts it, the game looks easy. The Nuggets are sitting near the top of the Western Conference right now, and Murray is finally a "lock" for his first All-Star nod.
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The Physical Toll of Being a "Riser"
We need to talk about the injuries. It’s the elephant in the room. Since that devastating ACL tear in April 2021, Murray’s body has been a map of minor strains and inflammation.
- Left Knee Inflammation: He’s missed handfuls of games this season just to manage the swelling.
- Hamstring Strains: A right hamstring issue kept him out for a chunk of early 2025.
- Calf Concerns: This was the quiet killer during the 2024 playoffs against Minnesota.
It's a delicate balance. The Nuggets need him healthy for April, but they also need him to build chemistry with newer additions like Jonas Valanciunas and Peyton Watson. Murray recently praised Watson’s mindset, noting how the young wing stays ready even when he doesn't touch the ball for ten possessions. That’s leadership. That’s the "Old Head" version of Jamal Murray we’re seeing now.
The Lakers Merchant Label
There is a funny, almost cruel joke on NBA Reddit that Jamal Murray is a "Lakers Merchant."
The data actually backs it up. Against Los Angeles in the playoffs, his scoring jumps to 27 points per game. He hits game-winners over Anthony Davis like it’s a Tuesday morning practice. But when he faces a team like the Timberwolves—who have length and legal "hand-checking" styles—he can struggle. He isn't the fastest guard. He relies on elite footwork and a "push-off" jumper that requires a lot of lower-body strength. When those legs are tired, the shot flatlines.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Title Hunt
What most people get wrong about the Denver Nuggets Jamal Murray dynamic is thinking he’s just a "Robin" to Jokic’s "Batman." It’s more like a symbiotic relationship. Murray provides the vertical gravity and the late-clock shot-making that Jokic’s ground-bound game sometimes lacks.
Right now, the Nuggets are navigating a Western Conference that is deeper than ever. The Thunder are young and fast. The Wolves are still a defensive nightmare.
To win another ring, Murray has to prove the 2024 slump was an injury fluke, not the start of a decline. He’s 28 years old now. This is his prime. He’s no longer the "Blue Arrow" rookie; he’s a max-contract vet with a target on his back.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking Murray's impact on the Nuggets' title odds, watch these three things:
- The Step-Back Consistency: If he's getting enough lift on his jumper to clear 6'7" defenders, his knee is healthy.
- Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: This season, he's up to 7.5 assists. If he maintains that while keeping turnovers under 3.0, the Denver offense becomes statistically impossible to guard.
- Rotation Minutes: Pay attention to how Coach David Adelman (filling in during this 2026 stretch) manages Murray's "stagger" minutes without Jokic. If Murray can lead the bench units effectively, Denver's floor rises significantly.
The road to the 2026 Finals goes through Denver. And as history shows, that road is usually paved by a Jamal Murray heater that nobody saw coming.