Jamal Murray’s return from a devastating knee injury suffered late in the 2020-21 season was completed Monday night as the Denver Nuggets won the NBA championship for the first time.
Murray missed the entire 2021-22 season with a knee injury and had to watch his team get knocked out of the playoffs early twice after finishing as the No. 2 seed in the conference in consecutive years. This time, Denver was the leader and stayed that way until the end.
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Nuggets guard Jamal Murray moves the ball against the Miami Heat during Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Monday, June 12, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
The former Kentucky standout had 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in Denver’s 94-89 victory in Game 5 to close out Miami.
At the end of the game, Murray was crying with joy as Nuggets fans cheered for him at Ball Arena.
«It’s an amazing feeling,» he told ESPN’s Lisa Salters after the game. «Blood, sweat and tears to get back to this point. Everyone on my team here, everyone on the court believed in me. They believed in me to get back to myself. We proved a lot of skeptics wrong.»
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Nuggets guard Jamal Murray looks to pass against the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, Monday, June 12, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Salters asked if the moment was worth the wait. Murray said yes.
«I learned a lot just being out for two postseasons just pushing myself, having so many things on my mind, watching my team go through so many ups and downs. Just to see ourselves healthy, to know what we can do … we had the belief from the beginning, y’all ( the fans) had the belief from the beginning…it’s a complete circle. It’s great to see him through it.»
Murray then thanked his father and God before Salters moved on.
«He believed in me from the beginning,» Murray said of his father. «He got me to where I am today. It’s a blessing. It’s not me, it’s God’s will. I’m grateful that he gave me the strength.»
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray shoots while being defended by Miami Heat forward Kevin Love Monday, June 12, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
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Denver’s corps will now look to return to running next season with Murray, Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. among those set to be long term.