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How Nikola Jokic’s Teammate is ‘Part of the Problem’ for Denver Nuggets

The Oklahoma City Thunder are entering the season as clear-cut title favorites. For teams like the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks, however, anything short of a title would be considered a failure.

Nikola Jokic has long been the best player in the world, although he only has one Finals appearance to his name. The Nuggets spent the offseason revamping the coaching staff and added depth and shooting assets.

The main supporting cast–Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon–remain in place, and Denver is expected to maximize Jokic.

However, the Thunder are not the only thing standing in Denver’s way. In fact, one of the Nuggets’ best assets might actually be a roadblock.

GettyOKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MAY 05: Nikola Jokic #15 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets talk during the third quarter of Round Two Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on May 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets Need More From Jamal Murray

It’s a well-known fact that Jokic has never shared the floor with another All-Star. Murray has come close, putting together a fair share of solid, healthy seasons.

However, he hasn’t quite taken the leap. While Jokic carries enough attention for Murray to take a back seat, Denver needs a true second star to emerge next to the Hall of Fame-bound center.

Jokic’s star shines so bright that we forget about Jamal Murray and how important he is,” prefaced Dave DuFour on The Athletic NBA Daily’s October 20th episode. “And I think Jamal Murray has been part of the problem the last couple of seasons, too. It’s not just a lack of depth. It’s that Jamal Murray has come into camp, not in good shape, dealt with injuries that maybe are because of that.”

In his first 20 games of the season last year, Murray averaged 18.3 points on rather disappointing efficiency. Denver went 10-10 in those games, bitterly underperforming.

The season prior, in the same span, Murray averaged 19.4 points on remarkable shooting splits, although he had already missed significant time with injury.

In short, he needs to be more reliable and ready to impact winning right away. It’s a title-or-bust season in the Mile High City, and Murray needs to show his worth.

Jamal Murray to Benefit From Quiet Offseason

Denver made David Adelman their official head coach this summer and revamped the front office. On top of that, Cameron Johnson has arrived to score from deep. It was a busy offseason for the Nuggets, but not for Murray.

In 2024, he spent his summer playing in the Olympics. In 2023, he ended the season playing through injuries. This summer, he was able to focus on his game, not recovery.

When I talked with Jamal, he seemed to be, like Joker, in a very good place,” revealed insider Sam Amick.He talked about how health last season definitely had a carryover effect into the Nuggets’ season, once that got rolling. He’s feeling really good right now.”

If Murray can play at a near-All-Star level and Gordon and Johnson can continue to produce, Denver should easily be the Thunder’s main threat in the Western Conference.

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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports

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