June 16, 2023

Here’s a Look Back on Jamal Murray’s Ascension Over the Years — SLAM 230 Cover and More

After being sidelined for the 2021-22 season, Jamal Murray has not only managed to make a full recovery from his ACL tear but just helped lead the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever championship title.

Since his college days, the superstar has always been a force to be reconciled with, and now, Murray has made sure everyone knows that. In honor of his, and the Nugget’s victorious season, here’s a look back at Murray’s ascension over the years—from his SLAM 230 cover story to his days at Kentucky and more.

2016: FEATURE IN SLAM 199

Back in 2016, a 19-year-old Jamal Murray was finishing up his first, and only, season of college basketball at the University of Kentucky. In SLAM 199, Murray opened up about his decision to enter the NBA Draft, dealing with expectations and more.

You can read this story and more in our SLAM Digital Archives, which has every copy of SLAM, ever.

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2020: JAMAL MURRAY COVERS SLAM 230

In 2020, Murray was gearing up for what would be a breakout run in the bubble. Murray was averaging a then-career high 18.5 points per game during the 2019-2020 season.

For the cover of SLAM 230, we talked to Murray about how he expresses himself through basketball and how he’s inspired by martial arts legend Bruce Lee, practices mindfulness and more.