The Nuggets handling of Jamal Murray’s timetable has been harmful

Enough is enough.

It’s well past time for the Nuggets to officially put Jamal Murray’s return timetable to bed and announce that they will not have him attempt to return during this postseason.

After tearing the ACL in his left knee on April 12 of last year, the expectation was that Murray would not be rushed, but would aggressively attack his rehab with the hope of making a mid- to late-season return to a team that just had to “tread water” until then.

That, unfortunately, didn’t happen.

As the season progressed, Murray’s timetable fluctuated constantly. He could’ve been ready in January, the first round of the postseason or any time in-between.

The Nuggets did keep themselves above water thanks to an Herculean effort from Nikola Jokic, who will likely become Colorado’s first two-time MVP at the professional level this year. But Murray has yet to make his way back onto the court.

His presence in pregame warmups did ruffle some feathers, though. He could be routinely seen before games dribbling, cutting to the basket and, in some cases, dunking with little to no sign of the injury holding him back.

This caused some conflicting emotions within the media and fanbase. Suddenly, eyewitness accounts seemed to contradict what was being reported about Murray and where he was at with his recovery.

Fast-forward to Saturday, prior to Game 1 against the Warriors, where we witnessed the latest installment of the new narrative being pushed: Murray is fine now, he just doesn’t want to come back yet.

Woj on Jamal Murray: "The decision for Jamal Murray to play in these playoffs… It rests with Jamal Murray. He's been cleared by the doctors. But the organization has left it in his hands." 🤔🤔🤔

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) April 17, 2022

This certainly felt like a significant shift in tone coming from the Nuggets. And it opened up a can of worms that are still squirming all over the sidewalk.

By framing things the way that they did, the Nuggets planted seeds of doubt about Murray that went beyond the game of basketball. From those seeds, questions about Murray’s toughness, commitment and passion sprouted.

None of which would ever have been raised otherwise.

And while some in the media came under fire for “fanning flames” or “encouraging harassment” by discussing these questions, I would ask: When that is the team’s message, what are fans and media members supposed to say?

It can’t be understated how much differently this entire saga could’ve played out had the Nuggets handled Murray’s timetable differently. As it became clearer that he wasn’t on the track they had initially hoped for, they could have shut him down. They’ve had several opportunities to do so, and there’s a fair argument that says it wouldn’t benefit them all that much to bring him back now because the likelihood that things snap back into rhythm mid-series against the Warriors is fairly slim.

I, for one, question whether or not the team actually wants Murray to come back. You don’t have to strain your neck too much to see how Murray, or even Michael Porter Jr., staying on the shelf presents the Nuggets with a parachute to soften the landing of what could end up being another disappointing, early playoff exit.

“We were outgunned in the playoffs without two of our stars, but have the (likely) two-time MVP and reinforcements will arrive next year.”

Just like that, the can gets kicked a bit further down the road.

But again, I ask: Even if that was the team’s mindset, why put Murray in the crosshairs?

What’s the point of pushing the narrative that Murray has been cleared by them and it’s “his decision” to come back? It stokes a fire within the fanbase, which is fueled by the national and local media who are being fed the scoop, and starts the narrative that Murray is soft.

So, what now?

What’s the end game? You turn sections of the fanbase against one of your marquee players so they don’t blame you for falling short in the playoffs again? You compromise Murray’s reputation to preserve the team’s? What good does that ultimately serve?

Not to mention, the approach they appear to be taking right now isn’t even clever. Are Steve Kerr and the Warriors really lying awake at night nervous about the notion that Murray could return to play his first real minutes of basketball in over a year?

It’s a pointless charade.

Where things stand, Jamal Murray and his ever-fluctuating rehabilitation is akin to the moment on the Tilt-a-Whirl where the spinning shifts from playful to sinister and the funnel cake resting in your stomach becomes a flight risk.

The Nuggets have done one of their franchise cornerstones a disservice with the way they have handled his return from injury. It serves them no purpose to continue down their disingenuous, and borderline slanderous path they’re currently on.

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