NBA insider Brian Windhorst made an interesting comparison this week regarding Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray and an Eastern Conference opponent. While discussing Murray’s recent shooting struggles, including this preseason, the NBA Today gang pondered what a successful season for Murray would look like. Windhorst focused on a key factor outside of scoring that would significantly play into Murray’s year.
Jamal Murray’s Health is Denver’s X-Factor, Per NBA Insider
Murray’s Impact in the West Mirrors Joel Embiid’s in the East
NBA Insider Brian Windhorst made quite the player-to-player comparison while tackling the subject of Murray’s health for the Nuggets on NBA Today. Show host Malika Andrews set the subject up by posing the question of what success would look like for Murray and the Nuggets this season. The last we saw of Murray in meaningful games, he struggled from the field in the playoffs. His game-closing baskets in round one versus the Los Angeles Lakers were terrific. Yet, overall, including the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves, Murray’s shot wasn’t on point. Then, in the Olympics, he struggled mightily playing for Canada. To top it off, his preseason has started off relatively slow.
Murray isn’t too bothered by the outside noise, nor should he be, but that doesn’t stop the questions from the outside. In discussing what success looks like for Murray this year, Windhorst focused on his health rather than his game. It was in his take that he compared Murray to Joel Embiid in a justifiable way.
“Yeah, we all know that in the Eastern Conference, Joel Embiid’s health is maybe the most important x-factor in seeing how the conference is going to go. I would put Jamal Murray in that, in the Western Conference, his health is probably the most important x-factor. When he is at his best, the Nuggets have proven to be an extremely high-level team. 2020, he was healthy in the bubble, the Nuggets make the conference finals. He’s dealing with injuries in ‘21, ‘22, they’re [Nuggets] out early. He’s at full power in ‘23; they win the title. Last year, he’s hobbled, disappointing, out in the second round.”
Windy continued by saying when Murray is fully healthy, he and Nikola Jokic are virtually unstoppable.
The Murray/Embiid Comparison Makes Sense
Comparing Murray to Embiid is nonsense at first listen, but when you follow Windhorst, he makes a solid point. Their respective conferences change drastically from a health and availability standpoint. Windhorst points this out perfectly, alluding to Denver’s lack of success in the playoffs when Murray is not 100%, as opposed to the alternative.
As great as Jokic is, he can’t lead the team the way Murray does, considering their on-court positioning. And with all due respect to Russell Westbrook, he won’t “point guard” the Nuggets to a second championship—Murray can. The Nuggets championship window hasn’t closed by any means. Losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to free agency could be a hit, but the team’s core—Jokic, Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr.—comprise one of the league’s best starting lineups. And, adding Westbrook could prove to be valuable—not leading the team to the finals valuable, but still contributing and bringing energy and aggressiveness to the table type of valuable.
The Nuggets season will rely on Murray’s health. And the 76ers season will rely on Embiid’s. An injury to a star player can happen in a split second of any play. So, yes, Windhorst is right. If Murray’s health goes negatively, that changes the landscape in the West. Why? It will likely decrease Denver’s chances of competing deep into the playoffs.
