Jamal Murray wins ESPY for Comeback Player of the Year
Jamal Murray is going to need a bigger mantle. The former Kentucky Wildcat added another piece of hardware to his collection Wednesday night. The Denver Nuggets star shooting guard won an ESPY award for Comeback Player of the Year.
During the COVID-19 bubble tournament, Jamal Murray showed he’s ready for the NBA’s brightest spotlight by winning a high-scoring duel with Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz to reach the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, he never could build off that momentum. He tore his ACL the following season, starting a long road to recovery.
Jamal Murray was sidelined for 18 months. Yes, he missed EIGHTEEN months of basketball, but didn’t miss a beat once he got back on the court. Serving as the shake to Nikola Jokic‘s bake, the Canadian helped the Nuggets earn the top seed in the Western Conference, then averaged 26.1 points per game in the postseason on the road to a title.
In Denver’s first ever trip to the NBA Finals, Jamal Murray tipped things off by tallying 10+ assists in each of the series’ first four games. It’s a feat that has never been done before.
Jamal Murray is the 16th Kentucky men’s basketball player to win an NBA Championship. He is the first former Kentucky Wildcat to win an ESPY award for Comeback Player of the Year. A few other notable award winners: Klay Thompson (2022), Russell Westbrook (2014), Teddy Bruschi (2006), Evander Holyfield (1997) and Michael Jordan (1996).
In one season with the Wildcats, Jamal Murray was an All-American and an All-SEC performer. He averaged 20.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.14 three-pointers and 2.2 assists per game. His single-season points average remains the highest scoring average of the John Calipari era and is the most by any freshman in program history. He also made at least one three-pointer in 36-consecutive games to break Tony Delk’s record of 34 straight.
Murray was drafted seventh overall by the Nuggets in 2016. Now he’s an NBA Champion with an ESPY award.
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