Page 26 - Sports Illustrated for Kids Magazine (December 2019)

“It’s just basketball, at the end of given the Nuggets
the day,” Murray says. “I know how to the lead with nine
come off a handoff and a pin down. I seconds left. He
played the two guard in college, and didn’t have a single
´
playing point guard is what I’ve done assist. (Jokic had 14.)
all my life. It’s a simple game.” After the final

buzzer, Murray
HEAD IN THE GAME stormed up to the

Before the 2018–19 season, NBA.com practice court at the
surveyed the league’s 30 general Pepsi Center to try
managers for their input on an his hand at time
assortment of topics. When asked travel. Now he would
which player was the most likely to make the go-ahead
have a breakout season, they chose jumper, the catch-
Murray. But Murray doesn’t think and-shoot three, the
that a season featuring career highs uncontested
in points (18.2 per game), rebounds 19-footer.
(4.2), and assists (4.8) qualifies as a “I’m used to rough
breakout campaign. “I appreciate the starts,” Murray said
GMs thinking about me in that way,” after his postgame
he says. “I also saw it myself. It didn’t shootaround. “So I’ll
happen last year.” bounce back.”
Part of the reason was his What came next
inconsistency. “I’ve just got to be was distressing: 25 THEY’RE NO JOKE
disciplined,” Murray says. He has a miserable minutes to Murray (with Juancho
Hernangómez, 41)
wild, impulsive streak—but he also start Game 2.
paired with Jokić
has a clear desire to calm it. Structure Murray was a mess to lead Denver to
is what he knows. His father, Roger, at both ends of the 54 wins and the No. 2
trained him to be free of distractions. court. He failed to seed in the West,
tying the franchise’s
No cellphone. No television. hit a single shot. best NBA finish.
Murray says that one of his earliest Two losses at home climbed his way out of the

memories was learning to meditate. would have all but ended gutter for a near-perfect
As a teenager, if he felt his mind the Nuggets’ season. Their roster frame: 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting
wander during an exam, he would be called into question. in what would be a series-saving
meditated. Before Murray ran track, Down by seven entering the fourth 39-point quarter for the Nuggets.
he meditated. Even now, when quarter, it would have been reasonable “He made me look like I knew
Murray feels his game start to drift, for coach Michael Malone to consider what I was doing,” Malone says
he meditates. “I get to be honest with his alternatives. “But I knew full well through a smirk.
myself, without having anybody’s it wasn’t just about that moment,” Denver lost its second-round
opinions or worries on my back,” he Malone says. “If I would have taken series, but the Nuggets entered
says. “Just kind of look at myself, look him out then, that would have been 2019–20 as one of the favorites in the
at what I can do to get better, and go really detrimental to his growth as a West. It’s no coincidence that
out there and do it.” player—and to us as an organization. Denver’s rise has aligned with
That mental toughness was on Sometimes you have to take a step Murray’s, considering that he can’t
display last spring in the playoffs. The back and think big-picture.” help but aim high. “I’m not just here
Nuggets had the second-best record in After three of the worst quarters of to get a paycheck and leave,” he says.
the Western Conference and were Murray’s professional career, Malone “I’m here to be one of the greatest
playing the San Antonio Spurs. told Murray that he loved him. That he basketball players to ever play.”
In his debut, Murray shot just 8 of believed in him. That he trusted him. “He’s a no-ego guy until he gets
23, played poor defense, and missed “And he goes out there and wins between the lines,” Connelly says. JAMIE SCHWABEROW

a wide-open jumper that would have us that game,” Malone says. Murray “And then he has a lot of ego.”

24 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS