The Denver Nuggets signed Jamal Murray to a four-year, $207.8 million contract earlier this summer.
Financial Impact of Murray’s Contract:
This new deal kicks off in the 2025-26 NBA season. By giving such a huge salary to their star point guard, the Nuggets have limited their financial flexibility for building the rest of the team.
Concerns Over Injuries:
Murray’s injury history is worrying. He tore his ACL in April 2021, missing the rest of that season and all of 2021-22. Last season, calf and elbow injuries again kept him off the court and affected his performance.
“His numbers in the playoffs were OK,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on “NBA Today.” “But looking at his career stats, they were down. It was actually his worst playoff performance. I know he had injuries to his calf and elbow; I’m not disregarding that, but his numbers were down. And then, he looked really off this summer in the Olympics for Team Canada; he shot 29% over in France…He comes back and gets a $200 million extension with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope over in Orlando.”
"[The Nuggets] have run out of time with cheaper contracts. … The pressure has now arrived." โ๏ธ @WindhorstESPN on if Nikola Jokiฤ, Jamal Murray and the Nuggets' championship window has closed ๐
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA)
The Pressure is On:
“[The Nuggets] have run out of time with cheaper contracts… The pressure has now arrived,” Windhorst added on Twitter about whether Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and the Nuggets’ championship window has closed.
Murray’s Role on the Team:
Though not an All-Star, Murray is crucial for Denver’s success next to Nikola Jokic. He’s known for stepping up during playoffs. But spending over $200 million on someone who isn’t an All-Star raises eyebrows due to health concerns.
If Denver wants another championship run, they need Murray healthy and at his best. Losing key role players adds more pressure on their top three talents. If Murray gets hurt again, it’s unlikely they’ll go far in the playoffs.
Fans think this contract might be too risky given his injury history.
The Nuggets took a gamble with this extension; only time will tell if it pays off
