NUGGETS

Nuggets fans need to brace for possibility Jamal Murray is out for the year

Mar 21, 2022, 11:03 AM

343 days.

It’s been nearly a year since Nuggets star point guard Jamal Murray tore his ACL late in a blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors, and Denver has sorely missed him.

Sure, MVP Nikola Jokic has done a remarkable job of keeping the team afloat in Murray’s absence, but the cracks are starting to show. The Nuggets are just 2-4 in their last six games and were embarrassed in a 124-104 loss to the Celtics on Sunday night. The fact the team is still a very respectable 42-30 is a testament to Jokic’s greatness.

But with just 10 regular season games left, fans are understandably starting to worry about Murray’s status. On Sunday night before the Boston game, reporters took the task of asking Malone for an update. The answer was not promising.

Because some freak NFL athletes are now coming back from ACL tears in 9 or 10 months, some fans thought Murray would be back by now. But every recovery is different, and this isn’t Murray’s fault. When he’s ready, he’s ready.

Right now the Nuggets are the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and if the season ended today, they’d be in the NBA’s play-in tournament just to make the playoffs. Is is really worth rushing a rusty Murray back and potentially risking further injury for just a few postseason games? Like it or not, a championship probably isn’t happening this season. For as great as Murray is, he isn’t returning to his old form overnight.

Throw in the fact that Michael Porter Jr. has also been out since November after back surgery, and this season is getting awfully close to feeling lost. As 104.3 The Fan’s Zach Bye likes to say, it’s the year before the year. If Murray and Porter can continue to get 100 percent healthy over the summer, the Nuggets can be legitimate title contenders next year. Hurrying either back for this season and stunting their rehabs would be a waste.

And while Malone didn’t say it that clearly on Sunday night, you have to wonder if the coach is starting to feel the same way. It’s an unfortunate reality, but Nuggets fans need to brace for the possibility we don’t see Murray back this season.

***

Nuggets

Michael Malone Nuggets...

James Merilatt

Michael Malone can finally answer his critics in pivotal Game 2

Facing what feels like a must-win game, the Nuggets head coach is going to have to find some answers, which would show his value

2 hours ago

Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to a technical foul against the Denver Nugg...

Jake Shapiro

Wolves were built to stop Nuggets, but can Denver slow Edwards?

Tim Connelly assembled a group that could finally bring down the monster he himself made, that much was evident from Game 1

1 day ago

Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets looks to passes the ball from the ground against Mike Conley...

Jake Shapiro

Wolves reintroduced in Denver, take grueling Game 1 from Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets overcame an early 14-point deficit but the Minnesota Wolves threw a big second punch to win Game 1

2 days ago

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets boxes out Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves...

Jake Shapiro

Nuggets finish final preparations ahead of matchup with familiar foe

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be a full go for the Denver Nuggets second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves

3 days ago

Darvin Ham Nuggets Lakers fired...

Will Petersen

The Nuggets just helped get yet another NBA head coach fired

The Nuggets are making this a habit, getting the head coaches of other NBA teams fired; Darvin Ham was let go by the Lakers on Friday

3 days ago

...

Rachel Vigil

How will the Nuggets approach the Timberwolves?

Zach Bye looks ahead to the upcoming second-round matchup of the Nuggets versus the Timberwolves and discusses what the Nuggets will need to do to prepare for a young superstar like Anthony Edwards.

4 days ago

Nuggets fans need to brace for possibility Jamal Murray is out for the year