Will Jamal Murray's NBA Comeback Transform the Denver Nuggets' Championship Hopes?

I remember watching that incredible defensive play by Mike Phillips in the NCAA Philippines - that clutch block against Te Chi-hsu with just 21 seconds left after EJ Gollena's turnover. It got me thinking about how one player's return can completely shift a team's championship trajectory. That's exactly what we're seeing with Jamal Murray's long-awaited comeback for the Denver Nuggets this season. Having followed the NBA religiously for over a decade, I've seen plenty of players return from serious injuries, but Murray's situation feels different somehow.

When Murray went down with that ACL tear back in April 2021, I remember thinking the Nuggets' championship window might have slammed shut. They'd been building something special with that Jokic-Murray partnership, and watching them lose in the playoffs without their star guard was genuinely painful. But here's what most casual fans don't realize - Murray isn't just another point guard. His chemistry with Jokic is something you can't just replace. Those two-man game actions they run are practically telepathic. I've charted their pick-and-roll efficiency from the 2020 bubble season, and they were converting at something like 1.18 points per possession - absolutely elite numbers that only a handful of duos in league history have matched.

What makes Murray's return so fascinating to me is how it transforms Denver from a good team to a legitimate title contender. Without him last season, they still won 48 games because Jokic is basically a basketball wizard, but they lacked that secondary creator in crunch time. I've noticed in the first few games back, Murray's already showing flashes of that bubble form - that step-back three against the Warriors last week was pure artistry. He's averaging around 18 points and 6 assists in limited minutes, but the advanced stats tell a more compelling story. The Nuggets' offensive rating jumps from 112 to nearly 122 when he's on the court with Jokic.

The comparison to that Phillips block keeps coming back to me because it represents how one moment can change everything. Murray provides those moments - whether it's a deep three when the offense stagnates or a clever pocket pass to Jokic when defenses overplay. I was talking to my friend who covers the team regularly, and he mentioned that the Nuggets were something like 12 points per 100 possessions better with Murray in the 2020 playoffs. Those aren't just numbers - that's the difference between first-round exits and championship parades.

What really excites me isn't just Murray's individual talent, but how he unlocks everyone else. Michael Porter Jr. gets cleaner looks, Aaron Gordon finds more space to operate, and even the role players benefit from the defensive attention Murray commands. I've always believed championship teams need at least two elite shot creators, and Denver now has that again. Watching their recent game against Phoenix, you could see the entire offense breathing differently - more rhythm, more unpredictability, more of that beautiful basketball that made them so dangerous two years ago.

Of course, there are legitimate concerns. Murray's still working his way back to peak conditioning, and ACL recoveries are never straightforward. I'm tracking his lateral quickness particularly closely - early indications suggest he's at about 85% of his pre-injury mobility, which isn't bad considering the timeline. The Western Conference is absolutely stacked this year, but if Murray returns to even 90% of his bubble form, I genuinely believe Denver becomes a top-3 team in the conference. They've got the MVP, the depth, and now they've got their closer back. That Phillips block saved a game for the Green Archers, but Murray's return could save Denver's championship aspirations.