After a slow start to the season, the Denver Nuggets have finally found their footing and currently look like a championship contender.
The Nuggets had a terrible start to the season, but they have turned things around and have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the past month. Denver currently sits third in the Western Conference standings with a 38-20 record and look as though they are going to be a title contender once again.
Of course, Nikola Jokic has led the way this season for Denver as he once again finds himself in the MVP race. Jamal Murray has also been a key piece to the Nuggets success despite struggling to being the season.
Murray had a very slow start to the season. He struggled shooting the ball, which was a major factor in Denver’s early season struggles. Since then, Murray has broken out of his shooting slump and has once again looked like the Nuggets’ second-best player behind Jokic.
Feb 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) dribbles the ball up court in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
While Murray has been a major piece to the Nuggets’ success this season and throughout his career, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus recently placed the star guard sixth on his prediction list of the worst-value contracts in the NBA in two years.
“The Nikola Jokić/Murray combination was proven with the 2022-23 championship, but Jokić is arguably the best player in the world,” Pincus wrote. “Did the Nuggets overinvest in Murray, limiting their ability to properly staff the team around Jokić? He wasn’t nearly the same player for Team Canada this summer as he is for Denver. His contract may hold up well over time.”
While Pincus did place Murray sixth on his list, he also contradicted himself by saying that Murray’s contract may hold up well over the next few seasons.
Of course, Murray is set to make over $46 million next season and that number rises to over $57 million for the 2028-29 season. While this is an expensive contract for the Nuggets, Murray has helped lead them to a championship and has played a key role in their success alongside Jokic, and he will likely continue to do so until his time in Denver comes to an end.