Murray was born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario, the son of Sylvia (from Syria) and Roger Murray (born in Jamaica and moved to Canada at age nine).[1][2][3] He also has a younger brother, Lamar. His father grew up running track and field and playing basketball; as a youth, his father played against Kitchener native Lennox Lewis before Lewis began his professional boxing career.[1][2]
When Murray was three years old, he could play basketball "for hours" and at age six played in a league for ten-year-olds.[4][2] By the age of 12 or 13, he began playing pick-up games against top high school and college players. His father put him through many basketball drills and kung fu exercises, including meditation.[4][2] Murray's father, a lifelong fan of Bruce Lee, employed Lee's teachings when he raised his son, and Murray has credited Lee for influencing the way he approaches basketball.[5]
High school career
Murray attended Grand River Collegiate Institute in Kitchener, later transferring to Orangeville Prep in Orangeville, Ontario, where his father served as an assistant coach.[6] He and fellow prospect Thon Maker formed a duo that helped Orangeville Prep defeat many American schools.[2]
At the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic International Game, Murray was named MVP, becoming the second Canadian to win the award after Duane Notice.[7] At the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit, Murray scored a game-high 30 points and was named the MVP.[8][9]
On June 24, 2015, Murray reclassified to the class of 2015 and committed to Kentucky to play for coach John Calipari.[10][11][12] As a freshman in 2015–16, he was featured on the Midseason Top 25 list for the John R. Wooden Award,[13] and was named to the 35-man midseason watchlist for the Naismith Trophy.[14] He appeared in 36 games and averaged 20.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 40.8% from three-point range. Following his freshman season, Murray was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.[15] Murray also made the All-SEC First Team and the SEC All-Freshman Team.[16] Murray's 20.0 points per game are the most by any freshman in Kentucky's program history and the most for any player in John Calipari's tenure as head coach.[17]
He led the Wildcats, who had seven future NBA players on the roster, to a #1 ranking early in the season and the SEC title prior to being upset by 5-seed Indiana in the second round of March Madness. In April 2016, Murray declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility.[18]
Professional career
Denver Nuggets (2016–present)
2016–2019: Early years and first playoffs
On June 23, 2016, Murray was selected by the Denver Nuggets as the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.[19][20] On August 9, 2016, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Nuggets.[21] On November 13, 2016, he scored a then career-high 19 points in a 112–105 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.[22] He topped that mark on November 22, scoring 24 points in a 110–107 win over the Chicago Bulls.[23] On December 1, he was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in October and November.[24] On February 17, 2017, Murray was named MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge after posting a game-high 36 points (9-14 3FG) and a game-high 11 assists in Team World's 150–139 victory over Team USA.[25] On April 7, 2017, he scored a career-high 30 points in a 122–106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[26] At the season's end, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.[27]
On November 11, 2017, Murray scored a career-high 32 points in a 125–107 win over the Orlando Magic.[28] Six days later, he had a 31-point effort in a 146–114 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[29] On January 22, 2018, he scored a career-high 38 points, including a three-point play in the final minute, as the Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 104–101.[30] On February 1, 2018, he had a 33-point effort in a 127–124 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.[31] His 90.5% free-throw percentage was fifth in the league and the 10th highest in team history.[32][33]
On November 5, 2018, Murray scored a career-high 48 points in a 115–107 win over the Boston Celtics.[34] On December 18, he had 22 points and a career-high 15 assists in a 126–118 win over the Dallas Mavericks.[35] On December 29, he scored 46 points and made a career-high nine 3-pointers in a 122–118 win over the Phoenix Suns.[36] On January 3, he scored 17 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 117–113 win over the Sacramento Kings.[37] On January 17, he scored 22 of his 25 points in the third quarter of the Nuggets' 135–105 win over the Bulls.[38] On February 6, after missing six games with a sprained left ankle, Murray had 19 points and 11 assists in a 135–130 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.[39] In Game 3 of the Nuggets' second-round playoff series against the Trail Blazers, Murray had a then playoff career-high 34 points in a 140–137 quadruple-overtime loss.[40] In Game 4, he again scored 34 points in a 116–112 win.[41]
2019–2020: Western Conference Finals and NBA Bubble comebacks
On the first day of free agency period, Murray signed a contract extension of a 5-year, $170 million maximum deal with the Nuggets.[42]
On November 17, 2019, Murray recorded a season-high 39 points and 8 assists, including seven three-pointers, in a 131–114 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.[43] Three days later, during a 105–95 victory over the Houston Rockets, Murray recorded a career-high 6 steals, along with scoring 10 points and adding 9 assists.[44] On December 23, Murray scored 28 points and would knock down a game-winning step-back jumper against the Phoenix Suns with 2.5 seconds remaining in overtime to secure a 113–111 road victory.[45] On January 4, 2020, he tied his season-high 39 points in a 128–114 loss to the Washington Wizards.[46] After missing ten games due to an ankle sprain suffered against Charlotte on January 15,[47][48] Murray returned to have one of the best stretches of his career, averaging 31.3 points per game over a four-game stretch, including 36 points on 14-of-17 shooting and six three-pointers against the Suns on February 8.[49] On March 4, Murray hit yet another game-winner, making an off-balance jumper with 4.5 seconds remaining in regulation to seal a 114–112 victory over the Hornets while capping off an 18-point, 6-assist performance.[50]
On August 17, during the Nuggets' first round matchup with the Utah Jazz in the 2020 NBA playoffs, Murray recorded 36 points and 9 assists, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the Nuggets to a 135–125 Game 1 victory.[51] In Game 4 six days later, Murray erupted for a career-high 50 points, along with 11 rebounds and 7 assists, in a 129–127 loss to the Jazz. With Donovan Mitchell scoring 51, it was the first time in NBA playoff history that two opponents scored at least 50 points in the same game.[52][53] In a potential elimination game in Game 5 with Denver down 3–1 in the series, Murray recorded 42 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists to lead the Nuggets to a 117–107 win and force a Game 6, where Murray again scored 50 points, shooting 9–12 from three and helping the Nuggets extend the series to a Game 7 with a 119–107 victory.[54][55] Following Game 6, Murray became emotional during the postgame interview with TNT’s Jared Greenberg, addressing racial injustice, as well as honoring George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, as each of their pictures were on his shoes.[56]
On September 15, in Game 7 against the Los Angeles Clippers, Murray scored 40 points while hitting six three-pointers, leading the Nuggets to a series-clinching 104–89 win to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2009. With the win, the Nuggets became the first team in NBA history to comeback from multiple 3–1 deficits in a single postseason.[57] However, the Nuggets would go on to lose in the Western Conference Finals in five games to the eventual NBA championLos Angeles Lakers, with Murray recording 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists in the lone Denver victory in Game 3.[58]
2020–2022: ACL injury and year absence
Murray in 2020
On February 19, 2021, Murray scored a career–high 50 points in a 120–103 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.[59] During the game he became the first player in NBA history to score 50 points without attempting a free throw, as well as being the second player to get 50 points while shooting more than 80 percent from the field and from three-point range.[60][61] On April 12, Murray suffered a torn ACL on his left knee during a game against the Golden State Warriors. The following day, the Nuggets announced Murray would be out indefinitely.[62] On April 21, Murray underwent surgery on the torn ACL on his left knee. The same day Nuggets announced that he remained out indefinitely.[63][64] Murray averaged a career-high 21.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals, and shot a career-high 47.7% FG and 40.8% 3FG while playing 35.5 minutes per game.[65]
Although he was never officially shut down for the season, Murray missed the entire 2021–22 campaign while recovering from his ACL tear.[66] Without Murray, the Nuggets lost in 5 games to the Golden State Warriors during the first round of the playoffs.[67]
2022–present: Return from injury and first NBA championship
On October 19, 2022, Murray played in his first game in eighteen months, scoring 12 points in 26 minutes of playing time during a 123–102 loss to the Utah Jazz.[68] On December 8, Murray scored 21 points including a game-winning three-pointer in a 121–120 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.[69] On January 9, 2023, Murray scored a then-season-high 34 points in a 122–109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[70] On February 4, Murray scored a season-high 41 points, along with five rebounds and seven assists in a 128–108 win over the Atlanta Hawks.[71] On March 10, in a game against the San Antonio Spurs, Murray made his 805th career three-pointer and surpassed Will Barton to become the all-time leader in three-pointers made in Nuggets history.[72] His 172 three-pointers was fifth in franchise history, but second that season behind teammate Michael Porter Jr.'s 188.[33]
In Game 2 of the Nuggets' first round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Murray scored 40 points in a 122–113 win. This was his fifth 40-point postseason game, passing Alex English for the franchise record.[73] In Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, Murray recorded 34 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists in a 125–107 win over the Phoenix Suns.[74] In Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, Murray scored 23 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, along with 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals, propelling the Nuggets to a 108–103 come-from-behind win over the Los Angeles Lakers for a 2–0 lead in the series.[75] In Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, Murray scored 30 of his 37 points in the first half, along with seven rebounds and six assists in a 119–108 win, helping the Nuggets take a commanding 3–0 series lead.[76] Murray was again an integral part of the Nuggets during Game 4, during which he scored 25 points en route to a 113–111 victory. With the win, the Nuggets completed a 4-game sweep of the Lakers and advanced to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance. He also became the first player in NBA history to average 30 points on 50/40/90 shooting in the Conference Finals.[77]
In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Murray put up 26 points and 10 assists in a 104–93 win over the Miami Heat. He and Nikola Jokić also became only the second pair of teammates in NBA history to each put up at least 25 points and 10 assists in an NBA Finals game since Magic Johnson and James Worthy in the 1987 NBA Finals.[78] In Game 3, Murray posted a 30-point triple-double with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 109–94 win over the Heat. He and Jokić became the first teammates in NBA history (regular season or playoffs) to record 30-point triple-doubles in the same game.[79] In Game 4, Murray put up 15 points and 12 assists in a 108–95 win over the Heat. He also became the first player in NBA history to put up at least 10 assists in each of his first four Finals games.[80] In Game 5, Murray put up 14 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in a 94–89 win over the Heat to help lead the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in franchise history. He also averaged 21.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 10.0 assists per game in the Finals, joining Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to average at least 20 points and 10 assists per game in an NBA Finals series.[81][82]
On April 22, 2024, in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers, Murray put up 20 points along with a buzzer-beating, game-winning fadeaway jump shot over Anthony Davis in a 101–99 victory as the Nuggets took a 2–0 lead.[83][84] A week later, Murray suffered a strained calf in a Game 4 loss. Despite this, he managed to score scored 32 points, including a 14-foot game-winning shot with 1.5 seconds left in a 108–106 Game 5 victory, thus sending the Denver Nuggets past Lakers to the Western Conference Semifinals.[85][86]
On May 6, 2024, during Game 2 of the Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Murray threw a heat pack and towel towards the court while he was on the bench. He was fined $100,000 the next day by the NBA but was not suspended.[87][88] The Nuggets lost the series in seven games, despite a 35-point performance from Murray in a 98–90 closeout loss in a decisive Game 7.[89]
On September 7, 2024, Murray signed a four-year, $208 million contract extension with the Nuggets.[90]
Murray represented Canada at the 2013 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship in Uruguay, and averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game in leading the team to a bronze medal.[91] He played for the Canadian national team at the 2015 Pan American Games, helping the team win a silver medal.[92] His final averages for the tournament were 16.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, while shooting 45.9% from the field.
On May 24, 2022, Murray agreed to a three-year commitment to play with the Canadian senior men's national team.[93] He joined Canada in their preparations for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, but eventually decided to miss the competition to recover from his championship-winning NBA season.[94]
Murray is in a relationship with former University of Kentucky schoolmate Harper Hempel.[97] Murray formerly lived at the Schitt's Creek Rosebud Motel for two years.[98]
Carmelo Kyam Anthony is an American former professional basketball player. Anthony played 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was named an NBA All-Star ten times and an All-NBA Team member six times. He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange, winning a national championship as a freshman in 2003 while being named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. In 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, and is regarded as one of the greatest scorers in NBA history.
Andre Lloyd Miller is an American former professional basketball player and the current head coach for the Grand Rapids Gold. Miller has played professional basketball for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs. Currently, he ranks eleventh all-time in NBA career assists and only missed three games to injury in his 17-year career.
Paul Millsap is an American former professional basketball player who played for 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A power forward from Louisiana Tech University, Millsap was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He played in Utah until 2013, when he became a member of the Atlanta Hawks. Millsap has also played for the Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. He is a four-time NBA All-Star.
Hyland DeAndre Jordan Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies.
Eric Bledsoe is an American professional basketball player for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He plays the point guard position. After a season of college basketball with the Kentucky Wildcats, he was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 18th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft and subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Bledsoe had a four-year tenure with the Phoenix Suns between 2013 and 2017, before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Mason Alexander Plumlee is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He primarily plays the forward and center positions. As a freshman in 2009–10, he was a back-up forward for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team's national championship team, playing with his older brother Miles. He was a 2009 McDonald's All-American in high school. During his senior year at Duke, he also played with his younger brother Marshall. He was selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013 NBA draft. Plumlee was also a member of the United States national team that won a gold medal in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Austin James Rivers is an American former professional basketball player. In the 2012 NBA draft, he was selected with the 10th overall pick by the New Orleans Hornets, playing three seasons there before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. After three years with the Clippers, Rivers was traded to the Washington Wizards in June 2018. In December of the same year, he joined the Houston Rockets. He has also played for the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Reginald Shon Jackson, nicknamed Big Government, is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played three seasons for the Boston College Eagles before declaring for the 2011 NBA draft, where he was drafted 24th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jackson also played for the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Clippers before joining the Denver Nuggets, where he won a championship with the team in 2023.
Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Regarded for his big shots in the clutch, he has been nicknamed "Dame Time". He played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats and earned third-team All-American honors in 2012. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2012–13 season. With the team, he made seven NBA All-Star selections, seven All-NBA Team selections, and is the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
William Norman Barton III is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for Memphis, where he was named the Conference USA Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 2012. He was selected 40th overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and played for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA G League before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2015, where he eventually became their franchise leader in three-pointers made.
Jusuf Nurkić is a Bosnian professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 7-foot (2.1 m) center was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He also internationally represents the Bosnia and Herzegovina men's national basketball team. Nurkić has also played for the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Houston Jerami Grant is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange and was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft. Grant has also played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons. He won a gold medal with the 2020 U.S. Olympic team.
Aaron Addison Gordon is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in San Jose, California, Gordon attended Archbishop Mitty High School where he led his team to two state championships and was named California Mr. Basketball in his junior and senior years. Gordon then played one year of college basketball with the Arizona Wildcats, during which they won the Pac-12 regular season title and reached the Elite Eight of the 2014 NCAA tournament.
Dwight Harlan Powell is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal and is a member of the Canadian national team.
Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player who is a center for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Joker", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players and centers of all time, and is often considered the greatest draft steal in NBA history. A six-time NBA All-Star, Jokić has been named to the All-NBA Team on six occasions, and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24 seasons. He represents the Serbian national team, with which he won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Trey Anthony Lyles is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted by the Utah Jazz following his freshman season at the University of Kentucky.
Dejounte Dashaun Murray is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the Washington Huskies, where he earned second-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12 as a freshman in 2015–16. He was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft with the 29th overall pick. In 2022, Murray was named to his first NBA All-Star Game and led the league in steals. He is the Spurs' franchise leader in career triple-doubles. He has also played for the Atlanta Hawks.
Michael Lamar Porter Jr., also known as "MPJ", is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Missouri Tigers. Porter was ranked as one of the top prospects in the class of 2017. He was selected 14th overall by the Nuggets in the 2018 NBA draft, winning his first NBA championship with them in 2023.
Jarred Jakobi Vanderbilt is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected as a McDonald's All-American in high school. Vanderbilt played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft.
Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander, also known by his initials SGA, is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one year of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA draft before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers that same night.
↑ Huang, Mike (November 30, 2017). "How Bruce Lee became a muse for Kareem and an All-Rookie guard". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2024. Then there's Murray, a native of Canada who was reared on the tenets of Lee's teachings by his father, Roger. Roger was a lifelong fan of Lee's having grown up in the '70s watching the kung fu legend's movies... '[Lee] was a lot smaller than a lot of opponents but still came out and acted like he was a bigger guy,' Murray said. 'I just take that into account when I'm playing basketball.'
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
