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Jamal Murray shares immediate reaction to Nikola Jokic’s injury

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Charlie Walker | Last updated Dec 30, 2025 9:59 AM ET

The Denver Nuggets just suffered a major injury blow to their three-time MVP.

Nikola Jokic suffered a left knee injury during the second quarter of a matchup against the Miami Heat. His teammate, Spencer Jones, inadvertently stepped on the Serbian’s foot, causing Jokic’s knee to hyperextend.

He is scheduled for an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, but luckily for Denver Nuggets fans, he was able to walk to the locker room under his own power.

But this injury comes after Jokic’s incredible Christmas Day performance, where he put up 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jokic has shown remarkable durability in the NBA, having played fewer than 70 games in just one season (69 in the 2022-23 season). The Nuggets have rarely been forced to play without their superstar.

His co-star, Jamal Murray, had one thing in mind when he saw Jokic go down.

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Jamal Murray’s immediate reaction to Nikola Jokic’s injury

Murray is no stranger to knee injuries himself. In 2021, he suffered an ACL tear in his left knee. This required surgery and led to him missing the entire 2021-22 season. Murray was sidelined for a year and a half with the injury.

The 2023 NBA champion admitted that this was the first thing that he thought about when he saw Jokic suffer an injury to the same knee.

Speaking to reporters after the game, he said, “I just wish the best. The first thing that went through my mind was, ‘I hope it’s not what I had’, so as long as that’s out of the equation.

“Obviously, it’s part of the game, but we never want to see that happen. I’ll talk to him soon.”

When asked what the Nuggets need to do with Jokic out with an injury, Murray said, “It’s the same kind of mentality. Next man up. We know we’ve got to focus on what’s in here.

“Obviously, he’s not just a big part of what we do, but almost everything what we do, so we just want to see him healthy. We just want to see him healthy, and everyone is in here ready to step up.”

With Jokic hurt, Denver needs players to step into his shoes, which presents a golden opportunity for Murray in particular.

Jamal Murray can accomplish a career-first after Nikola Jokic injury

It’s going under the radar because of Jokic’s brilliance, but Murray is having a career-best year. The 28-year-old is logging career-highs in points, assists, and rebounds, averaging 25.4, 6.8, and 4.4 per game.

The Canadian is doing this with red-hot shooting, making 48.9% of his shots from the field and going lights-out at 45.7% from three. And now, he’s presented with a golden opportunity to accomplish a career-first.

Murray has been a consistently excellent playoff performer, but his lack of sustained regular-season success means he’s never been named an All-Star. Because of Jokic’s durability, he’s never been able to step out of his shadow.

Now is his chance, as the Nuggets turn to him to lead them through their games without Jokic. If he steps up and performs as he has in the postseason, then Murray can be named an All-Star for the very first time.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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