Has it always been this simple?
Portland Trail Blazers v Denver Nuggets | Matthew Stockman/GettyImages
The Nuggets had a tumultuous 2024 offseason as the team tried to figure out where it all went wrong. They seemed to be in great shape to repeat as champions before getting punched in the mouth by the Timberwolves in game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
There was plenty of debate about what exactly needed to happen for the Nuggets to get back to the top of the mountain. Much was made of the decision to let Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk and move Christian Braun into the starting lineup.
Chatter abounded about the revamped bench that prominently featured young players Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther plus veteran Russell Westbrook. And there was talk and hope about Michael Porter Jr. taking another step forward and becoming the team’s second star alongside Nikola Jokic.
But all along, the most realistic path back to title contention for the Nuggets has always been the simplest one; they needed the real Jamal Murray. The team is built around Jokic and Murray, and when those two are at their best, Denver is nearly unstoppable.
If Murray plays his best, Nuggets can win another title
When the Nuggets have been the best version of themselves over the past few years, it has always been when Jokic and Murray are thriving together. Jokic has essentially been a constant source of excellence, but Jamal has been the wild card.
He broke out in the bubble playoffs, which had Nuggets fans thinking they were close to a title. But Murray suffered a brutal injury and the team wasn’t whole for two straight seasons. Finally bouncing back in 2022, Murray put together his best season, culminating with an excellent playoff run to help the team win it all.
Murray suffered another injury late in the 2024 regular season and wasn’t 100% for the playoffs as the team bowed out to Minnesota. And this season got off to a slow start as well, but recently, Murray has found his form in a big way, his two-man game with Jokic is back, and the Nuggets are thriving and looking like contenders again.
Coach Michael Malone even pointed out recently that the team’s season can be split into two parts starting December 8th when Jamal Murray came alive. Before that date, the Nuggets were 11-10 and since then they’ve gone 25-9 with Murray averaging 22.8 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists per game on 49.5/39.8/91.5% shooting splits.
Michael Malone on Weds: “Our season is two seasons. Before Dec. 8 and after Dec. 8. … Since Dec. 8, just look at Jamal Murray’s stats. And you guys can write about it, because the stats are amazing.”
22.8 PPG, 4 RPG, 6 APG, 49.5/39.8/91.5%. Nuggets 11-10 on Dec. 8, 25-9 since.
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) February 14, 2025
Beyond the stats, the two-man game with Jokic has been absolutely dominant. In the last month with those two on the floor, the Nuggets have an offensive rating of 143 points per 100 possessions and they have 57/42/91% shooting splits as a team.
That’s historically good offense and the X-factor is Murray. Jokic is going to be incredible no matter what; he’s as reliable of a bet as there is in sports. Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon will be solid and the role players will be up and down. But Murray is the true lynchpin. If he’s just ordinary, so is the team. But when he plays like a star, the Nuggets are special.