Inside The Nuggets

Jamal Murray Makes Honest Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokic Statement

The Denver Nuggets have some NBA legends on their roster.

Joey Linn

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) against the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) against the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena. / Andrew Wevers-Imagn Images
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The Denver Nuggets signed nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook this offseason. Adding Westbrook gives the Nuggets two league MVPs, as superstar center Nikola Jokic has won the award three of the last four seasons.

Westbrook won MVP in 2017 when he averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists. This was the year after Kevin Durant left to join the Golden State Warriors in free agency, but Westbrook was sill able to lead Oklahoma City to the playoffs.

For many of Westbrook’s new teammates, they grew up watching the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles while he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Speaking with reporters at a recent Nuggets practice, point guard Jamal Murray made an honest statement on what it is like being teammates with Westbrook and Jokic.

“I grew up watching him,” Murray said of Westbrook. “We all did, really. So it’s cool to see him up close in person… Growing up with [Jokic], playing with him, it’s kinda like we just have our own feel… and we kinda look at each other like that… To look at Russ it’s like, ‘Oh damn, that’s Russ.’ So every time he's in the gym, he lifts not just me, but everybody's spirit and awareness."

As Murray noted, both Westbrook and Jokic are legends who will be in the Hall of Fame, but it is a different feel since Murray and Jokic grew up together as NBA players.

It will be fun to watch Westbrook and Jokic on the floor together.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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