Nuggets' Murray, Porter Jr. to return in 'not too distant future'?

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Nuggets' Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. to return from injuries in 'not too distant future'?

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 2/11/22

For a team that is fairly centered in the Western Conference standings at 30-24 and in sixth place entering Friday action, the Denver Nuggets stayed oddly quiet during Thursday's busy NBA trade deadline. Now, the rest of the league may know why.

Asked @nuggets boss Tim Connelly about the possible return of Jamal Murray and MPJ this season.

“It’s up to them. We’re going to clear them at some point in the not too distant future and then they have to determine when and if they’re ready”. @AltitudeSR 92.5
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) February 11, 2022

Some good news coming from #Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly, on @AltitudeSR, on the status of both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., saying he thinks they will physically cleared to return “hopefully in the not too distant future.”
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) February 11, 2022

Selected seventh overall by the Nuggets in 2016, Murray hasn't played an NBA game since he suffered a torn ACL in April 2021. After averaging 9.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 21.5 minutes per game across 82 contests (10 starts) during the 2016-2017 campaign, Murray earned Second-Team All-Rookie honors.

Murray was having a career year in the 2020-2021 season at the time of his injury, posting high marks in points (21.2), steals (1.3) and minutes per contest (35.5) across 48 games (all starts), while tying his career-high in assists per game as well at 4.8. He also shot a career-best 47.7% from the field and 40.8% from beyond the arc that season.

Porter Jr. was picked 14th overall by Denver in 2018 but missed the entire 2018-2019 season after undergoing a second back surgery. The former Missouri Tiger averaged 9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 16.4 minutes per contest in 55 games (eight starts) during the 2019-2020 season and upped his numbers to 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 31.3 minutes per game in 61 games (54 starts) last year.

After playing in just nine games this season, it was reported in late November that the forward was expected to miss the remainder of the campaign and undergo a third back surgery.

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