Behind the Scenes with Jamal Murray

Denver Nuggets star and Wilson Advisory Staff member Jamal Murray is a 2023 NBA Championship winner! Learn more about everything from his future goals in the league to what he likes to do with his free time in Colorado.

“Mental strength means everything, not just to me but it's everything to the human body,” said Jamal Murray, Wilson Advisory Staff Member.

We sat down with Jamal before the start of the 2022-23 season to discuss how he felt returning to the court after missing the entire 2021-22 season while recovering from an ACL tear.

Murray set the 2022-23 postseason on fire with 26.1 points, 7.1 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 39.6 percent from 3 and 92.6 percent from the free-throw line.

He proved himself to be an undeniable force in the NBA Finals. The Nuggets' four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers is the first sweep in the teams' franchise history. Murray led all scorers in the series, averaging 32.5 points, shooting 52.7 percent from the field, 40.5 percent from the 3-point line, and making 19 of his 20 free throw attempts.

Murray's 50-40-90 shooting against the Lakers was only the 11th time it has been done in a playoff series while averaging a minimum of 30 points per game. Among the list of other 30-point 50-40-90 players are names like Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokić, and Kawhi Leonard.

His ability to raise his game when it mattered most went a long way in putting the Nuggets over the top.

Murray played some of the best basketball of his career and is a major contributor to the Nuggets'first NBA Championship win in franchise history.

To put it simply, Murray is on fire heading into the 2023-24 season.

However, his road to success has not always been an easy one.

Jamal attributes his progress to both his patience and mindfulness.

“That’s your ticket to endure pain, that’s your ticket to be patient. I really practice that, it’s not just something you have, it’s something you have to develop and train for,” explained Murray.

“If you can channel your mental strength, not just through basketball, but what you do off court too, you’re going to be successful.”

We are extremely proud to have Murray as a part of our Wilson Advisory Staff. When we sat down with Jamal at our shoot in Denver, here is what he had to share:

Wilson: When did you fall in love with the game?

Jamal: I fell in love with the game from as early as I can remember— I started rolling a basketball around at 3 months old when my pops put it in my hands... And I've loved it ever since.

Wilson: What is the next big challenge you want to tackle in your career?

Jamal: The next big challenge for me is winning an NBA championship and making an All-Star Team.​

Wilson: What is your most fond memory with Wilson in hand?

Jamal: It's not having it in my hand, but my earliest memory of Wilson is when I watched Cast Away with my mom.

Wilson: What do you like about the Official NBA Game Basketball?

Jamal: I like how when it gets broken in, it gets grippy. I like the grippiness!

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Wilson: What is your personal motto, mantra, or quote that has always stuck in your mind?

Jamal: God will give you the strength to endure.

Wilson: The game has gotten a lot smarter in terms of data and analytics. How do you use analytics to make your game better, and what types of numbers do you find yourself looking at the most?

Jamal: I am setting targets in the games. Sometimes how many free throw attempts I take, or three-point attempts… You know whatever I am taking, I am trying to hit a certain mark so that I know that I’m being aggressive enough or looking for the right things throughout the game.

Wilson: What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten from a coach?

Jamal: Keep shooting.

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Wilson: What is something you like to do in your free time here in Colorado?

Jamal: Sleep, play video games with my brother and my friends, or go back to the gym.

Wilson: What are you most excited about this season?

Jamal: Just being here— back at work! Hearing the fans is probably the most exciting.

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Updated October 27, 2023