Jamallstar.
Turns out it is not just a cool hashtag, but a mindset. This is how it looks on social media: #JAMALLSTAR.
This is how it looks on the court:
24.9 points per game. Career high.
6.8 assists per game. Career high.
44.7 % on 3-pointers. Career high.
Entering Thursday night against Orlando, the Nuggets boasted a 19-6 record, their best mark after 25 games, despite the monthlong absences of starters Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon.
Reasons to believe the Nuggets would unseat the Oklahoma City Thunder this season began with Mr. Nugget, aka Gordon, getting more shots with Michael Porter Jr. in Brooklyn and the deep bench, most notably Jonas Valanciunas.
But the explanation was more obvious. Standing right in front of us.
Jamal Murray.
He is no longer treating stardom like an accidental tourist, waiting until late spring before wandering into the spotlight with his passport.
If we are being honest, even if this was foreshadowed in July, we all worried that Murray the Magnificent would be reduced to a memory only in our streams.
At 28, in his 10th season, Murray has abandoned mystery for consistency. It all started with an offseason conversation with co-general manager Jon Wallace. Then others in the organization.
The respect for Murray is real. His jersey will hang from the Ball Arena rafters when he retires. But for another championship banner to accompany it, the Nuggets needed Murray to perform like he was being paid — as a top 15 player.
Wallace challenged Murray to shut up the critics. And David Adelman served the role of part coach, part couch.
“It’s not really the physical side for guys, maybe just the mental. We have seen some of the pressure he has felt, (to) just to become more of a leader with the guys,” Adelman explained. “It is about going through the summer and understanding what working too hard means going into an 82-game season, what feeling fresh means, and be mentally stronger. And I think that stuff does translate. I feel like I am writing a self-help book. But it really is true.”
Murray had led the Nuggets to countless postseason victories, but they needed him to become a rudder over the summer with Nikola Jokic out of the country. He responded by organizing pickup games in Las Vegas, connecting teammates in Denver, showing up for training camp with the entire bag of Doritos on his shoulder.
We have all seen Murray play like this. Just never this early in the season. He recently won player of the week honors for the first time.
“I am happy we are off to a good start. Glad I am off to a good start as well. I am pretty happy with the way things are going right now,” Murray said. “It’s great recognition for the three games I had. I appreciate it.”
Looking back, the reasons for Murray’s slow start last season were there all along. He was hurt, and needed rest rather than to represent Canada in the Olympics. There was the $208.5 million max contract extension that Murray never took ownership of, spending his first press conference after it was signed talking more about his love of UFC than his understanding of accountability.
And there was the urgency to perform in Jokic’s championship window as coach Michael Malone’s message became increasingly stale and ignored. In mid-January, the overall numbers were alarming, his points (19.8) and 3-point percentage (39.2%) were his lowest since 2019.
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets is introduced before the game against the Orlando Magic at Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Eleven months later, Murray has channeled the strain into his game. He has become #JAMALLSTAR.
Now, all we have to do is wait to see if he gets the honor. Wallace mused recently with a smile, “He better.”
This is not bias. These are the facts. Murray should be a lock for the World Team against the United States. He probably won’t be among the top five vote getters required for starters, regardless of position, but should easily be among the top seven reserves. Murray ranks 16th in scoring, 11th in 3-point percentage and assists.
If that isn’t an all-star, what is?
“Just his poise sticks out. The way he is picking and choosing his spots. He and Jokic do an amazing job of playing off and reading off each other,” guard Tim Hardaway Jr. said. “It is been great to witness.”
The improved numbers are rooted in nuance. Murray is creating better angles, finding cleaner paths to the basket, though “No Call Jamal” remains a thing as refs continue to diss him. He is not relying on step-backs. The way he has played off-ball for his teammates has been eye-opening.
And yet, he has not lost his aggressiveness. In Monday’s overtime victory over the Rockets, Murray poured in 35 points. At one point, he backed down Reed Sheppard, drained a jumper and blew a kiss instead of shooting a blue arrow into our hearts.
It was easy to love, nonetheless.
“Open communication sometimes leads to positive things. From what I saw this summer, mentally, physically, all those things were at such a high level, and it’s cool to see it translate into the season,” Adelman said. “Jamal has been a special player forever. I don’t really judge the starts to his season, but obviously this has been one that will stand out. Not just because of the way he has scored, but the efficiency.”
Is this the year that Murray changes the narrative, plays with excellence from tip-to-tip from October to June?
A third of the way into the season, he has provided the answer in the form of a hashtag.
#JAMALLSTAR.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
