The Rookie of the Year race may be wide open after Joel Embiid’s recent injury woes. One player hoping to put his name into the mix is Jamal Murray.
The Denver Nuggets guard has had a solid rookie season, showing his worth as one of the best players in what has been a disappointing class. But as a member of the Nuggets, Murray is not in the national eye very often.
On Friday, however, Murray announced himself in a big way. Playing for the World Team (he is Canadian) in the 2017 NBA Rising Stars Challenge, Murray exploded for 36 points, including nine threes, to take home the MVP award. The guard shot 13 of 19 from the field including 9 of 14 from three.
Murray exploded in the second half, helping to lead the World Team to a 150-141 win despite Team USA attempting to make it a game.
This is the part where I tell you that literally no defense is played during these games. Nevertheless, the shots that Murray made in the second half were legitimately impressive and a good showcase of his talents as an NBA player. He is shooting a respectable 33 percent from behind the arc in his rookie year.
Have yourself a night, Jamal Murray.
