Jamal Murray: Overcoming Injuries and Returning Stronger Than Ever

Do you think I don’t want to play?

On April 18, 2022, the Denver Nuggets just lost to the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs by 20 points. Many disappointed fans poured into the community of Jamal Murray, the second leader of the Nuggets, accusing him of nearly Frequent injuries this year not only left the Nuggets star Nikola Jokić alone in the playoffs, but also hindered the Nuggets’ further hopes.

Faced with these doubts, Murray also left this sentence on the community at the moment. This is not only a counterattack to the sour people, but also the helplessness of the team because of the injury.

Since being selected to the Nuggets in 2016, Murray has shown his strong perimeter ability, and his big heart makes him considered the number one attacker after Jokić, especially in the 2019-2020 season, which is part of Murray’s rookie contract. In the last year, he also contributed 26.5 points, 6.6 assists, and 45.3% three-point shooting in the playoffs. Together with Jokić, he led the young nuggets to the Western Conference championship, although they lost to the champion Los Angeles Lakers in the end. But Murray still convinced many fans that he and Jokić were the future of the team.

After signing the extended contract of the Nuggets, Murray began to suffer from injuries. He only played 48 games in the next season. In a layup in one game, he fell to the ground with his left knee on his back. After inspection, Murray’s former A torn cruciate ligament, this season’s playoffs and even the next season will be reimbursed.

At this time, the Nuggets are already a strong team in the Western District, but often in the playoffs, it gives people a feeling that Jokić is alone. After missing the most important playoffs for two consecutive seasons, many voices of doubt follow. , thinking that this combination of inside and outside is not the answer to gold nuggets after all, and even Murray, who was very confident in the past, couldn’t help doubting himself.

Jamal’s first thought after his injury was, “Are you guys going to trade me? 』
He thought of himself as a broken object.
But I gave him a hug and told him we weren’t going to trade him.
He’s still going to be a big part of us, and we can help him get better.

Just when even Murray believed that he might be traded, the head coach of the Nuggets, Michael Malone, jumped out. He supported his younger players and asked Murray to focus on his rehabilitation. He and Jokić would definitely wait for him to come back.

In the process, not only the Nuggets’ own players, but another player who was also plagued by injuries also jumped out to support him, that is Klay Thompson.

This is so unfair to him.
Returning to the game in less than a year? And still in the playoffs?
Fans can’t imagine, can’t imagine how much effort it takes to rebuild muscles to return to NBA intensity.

Injury is the most debilitating part, because you not only have to endure the pain of the moment, but also the torment of rehabilitation. What’s more frightening is that you have to face self-doubt, doubting whether you can return to the skill before the injury.

And these, I am afraid no one knows better than Thompson.

In 2019, Thompson sprained the cruciate ligament of his left knee in the championship game. He will usher in a comeback the following year, but it was confirmed that he tore the Achilles tendon in his right foot and needed another operation, and he will be reimbursed again in the new season.

During the time he was injured, the Golden State Warriors to which he belonged ushered in the darkest period. From the past championship contender, he became the last underdog in the league overnight. Related to the Achilles tendon, all kinds of rumors about him “not going back” are flying around.

Being a competitor is really the worst feeling.

This made Thompson not only have to endure the rehabilitation of the injury, but also had to deal with the fans who came to blame for the team’s poor record, and even deal with the demons of whether he could return again.

After a long wait of 31 months, Thompson finally set foot on the court again. Although his lateral movement and offensive stability were affected after the serious injury, after all, he has never been a purely physical player, so even with a little athletic ability Downhill, he can still use running and shooting to create his own threat on the offensive end.

I told Jamal to look at the bigger picture.
Don’t lose your future in a rush to win.
How old is he? Only 25 years old!
He still has more than 10 years of his career, there is no need to compromise now.

As someone who has experienced it, Thompson gave Murray a lot of advice, both physically and psychologically. Although as mentioned above, Thompson’s return to the game did not reach the pre-injury level, but it still gave the Warriors a lot of help, and even became the key to the Warriors’ return to the championship last season.

This experience became Murray’s best encouragement, and it also made him not rush to come back, waiting for the time to prepare for a blockbuster.

When I get hurt, the first person who cares about me is Klay.
His concern means a lot to me.
From the beginning, I knew recovery was a long journey.