The Denver Nuggets have recently secured Nikola Jokic’s pick-and-roll associate, Jamal Murray, for a duration of four years, amounting to $207 million. This agreement guarantees that Murray will stay with the organization until the end of the 2028–29 season.
Nonetheless, not everyone is persuaded that Murray’s new agreement signifies his actual value. Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, who has recently discussed the scarcity of opportunities for players in the NBA, stands among the skeptics. Arenas recently conveyed his opinions regarding the contract during an episode of his “Gils Arena Show.”
Initially, he expressed astonishment that despite Murray’s abilities, he has not achieved specific individual recognition throughout his career. He went on to assert that had Murray been selected as an All-Star, he could have obtained a contract ranging from $305 million to $325 million.
“When you reflect on his career, you’re gonna think, ‘Wow, he never made an All-Star game? He wasn’t an All-NBA player? That’s wild, right? A player who contributes so much and yet doesn’t receive the honors and accolades,” Arenas remarked.
“This is inexpensive for what they’re getting. He’s a reliable closer; he nails critical shots. For him not to be an All-NBA player or an All-Star is surprising since he could have easily been signing for $305 [million] or $325 [million], and nobody would’ve claimed, ‘Ah, that’s excessive for him,’” he continued.
Jamal Murray’s Recent Season Highlights
Murray was unavailable for several matches last season due to recurring injuries. Regardless of these setbacks, he competed in 59 regular-season matches and achieved a personal best average of 21.2 points and 6.5 assists per game for the Nuggets.
During the playoffs, the Nuggets’ point guard demonstrated his resilience, particularly in the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, his performance was affected by injuries during the seven-game series defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. Across 12 playoff games, he averaged 20.6 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Image Source: Gilbert Arenas @ Instagram
