During an interview with NBA reporter Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said Nikola Jokic is the best player in the league.
Murray said he tries to be “a close second” to Jokic.
“Of course,” Murray said. “And I strive to be the greatest. I want to be the best player ever. Obviously, if you don’t shoot high, then you’re never going to get there. I think Jokic is the greatest player right now. And I try to be a close second.”
The Nuggets won the 2023 championship against the Miami Heat in five games. Murray, Jokic and the Nuggets are trying to become the first team since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors to win back-to-back titles.
Jokic won the 2023 Finals MVP Award. Murray, who has never made an All-Star team in his career, would love to win the 2024 Finals MVP Award.
“I think that means more to anybody, not just to me,” Murray said. “If you can get a Finals MVP, it means you’ve accomplished everything. That’s when it matters. Anybody can be an All-Star and average big numbers against teams in the regular season. But you go out there and do it for seven games, over and over against teams that are preparing to beat you, preparing to strap you, ready to get the ball out of your hands, preparing to blitz you, bring help? I think that says a lot more to your game than the regular season.”
The Nuggets are 45-20 on the season. They are in second place in the West. Most people around the NBA believe Denver will repeat as champions because of Jokic and Murray.
“I think we’re well on our way to trying to repeat the championship,” Murray said.
Jokic is averaging 26.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.2 assists this season, while Murray is averaging 21.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
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