The Denver Nuggets suffered a disheartening 27-point loss at home to the New York Knicks on Monday, surrendering 145 points in a game that left the team deflated. This setback followed a dominant road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, and it dampened the optimism that the Nuggets had gained from their recent success.
Despite the team’s inconsistency, Nikola Jokic has continued to cement his reputation as the best player in the world, averaging 29.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 10.9 assists this season. However, he has not received adequate support from his teammates, especially Jamal Murray, who has underperformed since signing a contract extension in the offseason.
Kendrick Perkins, visibly frustrated by Murray’s play, took to ESPN’s First Take to voice his concerns. “When is Jamal Murray going to step up and help Jokic?” Perkins asked. “He’s averaging just 17 points, numbers we haven’t seen since his second year in the league. Meanwhile, Jokic is having the best season of his career.”
Perkins also criticized Murray’s recent comments about the Nuggets’ intensity following the loss to the Knicks, suggesting that Murray needs to focus more on his own performance. “We’re waiting for him to elevate his game after a contract extension, and he hasn’t done it,” Perkins remarked. “When you talk about focus, you should be looking in the mirror.”
Murray’s struggles aren’t new. His performance during last year’s postseason was lackluster, even though he hit two game-winners against the Lakers. His play declined further in the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. These difficulties extended to his time with the Canadian National Team during the Olympics, where Murray’s poor form contributed to an early exit for Canada.
Now, his shooting woes have continued into the current NBA season, leaving Nuggets fans to question whether the team made a mistake in investing heavily in a player who has been inconsistent for nearly a year.
