Nuggets must continue to soldier on without injured Jamal Murray
The Nuggets will look to “win by committee” as Jamal Murray continues to rehab his torn ACL.
DENVER — Even on a roster featuring reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, guard Will Barton said the Denver Nuggets’ guiding philosophy in 2021-22 will be to “win by committee.”
At least until Jamal Murray returns to the lineup.
“Yeah, I think that’s on point,” coach Michael Malone said. “I think Will’s mindset is where it needs to be regarding going into the season without Jamal Murray.”
The Nuggets’ star point guard tore his left ACL last April, an injury that ultimately quashed Denver’s championship aspirations.
“I remember the next day speaking to our team and that was kind of the point I made at that time: No, there is not another Jamal Murray on this team and I don’t want anybody trying to be Jamal,” Malone recounted. “No, we were going to make up for his loss as a committee, as long as everybody brought the best version of themselves.”
They did just that, going 13-5 down the stretch and beating the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs before getting knocked out by Phoenix.
“And now as we start this new season. I think that has to be the same mindset,” Malone said. “It is by committee. We’re going to need everyone to bring their best every day. And obviously you know Nikola had an MVP season last year, but we also need everybody else to step up and, and knowing the group the way I do, I anticipate that happening.”
Nobody — not even Murray — knows when he’ll be back.
“Just five months ago, I couldn’t lift my leg off the bed,” Murray said recently. “So, I’ve come a long way. But even when I do certain things, I’ve got to remind myself that I can’t do it to the speed or the level that I want to do it. … That’s just going to come with time. And I can’t rush time.”
And the Nuggets won’t rush Murray back, either.
“He’ll come back when he’s ready,” said Tim Connelly, the team’s president of basketball operations. “Not when we tell him, not a date on the calendar. Only he will know when he’s ready. And we’re at zero rush.”
