Jamal Murray had a pretty solid rookie year in a class that was mostly disappointing in its inaugural season in the NBA. But Murray’s production becomes even more impressive when you find out that he played his entire season with a sports hernia, according to Chris Dempsey of Altitude Sports:
How tough was #Nuggets rookie Jamal Murray? He played all 82 games this season through a sports hernia.
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) April 13, 2017
Fortunately, this isn’t a career-threatening injury but everyone knows it’s very painful. That the Denver Nuggets guard and Rising Stars Challenge MVP was able to appear in 82 games (and start 10) while nursing the injury is incredibly impressive. That’s some crazy toughness.
Murray averaged 9.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in just over 21 minutes of playing time. He shot 40.5 percent from the field.
Murray’s season was among the best of any rookie, putting the 20-year-old firmly in the discussion for the league’s Rookie of the Year award. It’s unlikely that the former Kentucky Wildcat will be the winner but he should be rewarded somehow for showcasing that toughness all year. Name the award after him.
