Nikola Jokic gets All-Star starter nod, Murray misses (for now)

Nikola Jokic is heading to yet another All-Star Game as the Denver Nuggets icon will start in the game next month in Southern California.

Jokic was named a starter for the West. That means he will be the first on the court for the international stars in the NBA’s new format for the game. It pits two American teams against the globe, which means if Jamal Murray gets in as a reserve, he’ll take the court on the same side as Joker.

Jokic gets in with Luka Doncic, Steph Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama from the West. The East features Jalen Brunson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham and Jaylen Brown.

This marks Jokic’s eighth consecutive All-Star starter selection, a testament to his dominance over the past half-decade. The three-time MVP was the favorite to win a fourth such award, averaging a 30-point triple-double while leading the NBA in both rebounding and assists the last time he took the floor.

Jokic hasn’t played since hyperextending his knee on Dec. 27 in Miami. He bruised a bone in his knee and is expected to miss at least another week. He should make his Nuggets comeback soon enough and will likely be healthy for a return where he plays in the All-Star Game.

Jokic now has the third-longest active streak of All-Star appearances behind LeBron James and Antetokounmpo.

The bigger story for Nuggets fans may be Murray’s positioning. The ninth-year guard did well in West fan voting, with multiple big-time NBA reporters saying he was a lock for the game. While he didn’t get the starter selection, there is a strong signal he’s got a legitimate chance to earn his first trip to the event.

Murray has stepped up considerably during Jokic’s absence. With Murray cracking the top 10 in recent MVP ladder rankings from NBA.com, the case for his first All-Star berth has never been stronger.

The event’s new format will feature a round-robin tournament, consisting of four 12-minute games. The three teams will each have a minimum of eight players. The 24 All-Stars will have 12 players from each conference, regardless of position.

Seven reserve spots remain up for grabs — and Murray has a strong chance.

The process for assigning players to the two U.S. teams will be determined at a later date. And the reserves will be announced later as well.

Now the question in Denver turns to reserve selections. Should Murray earn the nod, it would pair two Nuggets on the international squad — and give Denver fans another reason to tune in from Intuit Dome on Feb. 15.

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