Jamal Murray catches heat for taking side trip between Nuggets games
Feb 8, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) reacts in the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Some Denver Nuggets fans were not happy about Jamal Murray leaving his team during the middle of a road trip.
Murray was spotted in the audience during UFC 309 headlined by Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, N.Y. A clip of the Nuggets guard exchanging contact info with former UFC champ Kamaru Usman made waves on social media.
Jamal Murray 🤝 Kamaru Usman
Just a friendly exchange between two champions 🏆 #UFC309 pic.twitter.com/rOiflCIQf6
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 17, 2024
Under normal circumstances, a high-profile athlete attending another sporting event isn’t exactly the biggest deal. But Saturday’s UFC event was sandwiched right between the two Nuggets road games at New Orleans on Friday and Memphis on Sunday. The two games also happened to be ones where Nikola Jokic was absent for the birth of his son.
Murray’s personal excursion did not sit well with some observers online.
Why is Jamal Murray flying all over the country going to UFC fights on off days when he's been horrible all year after just signing a max contract?
Probably should spend more time focusing on a job where he's doing a lot less than he's supposed be.
— Justin Termine (@TermineRadio) November 18, 2024
Following a horrible start to a road trip on which you have to be the team’s best player you took a flight from New Orleans to New York and need to fly back to Memphis by tomorrow for a basketball game
Jamal Murray’s priorities are not basketball right now. https://t.co/istmfvhALY
— Normie (@EpicNormie__) November 17, 2024
Jamal “$208M/4y” Murray thinks it’s a good idea to travel to NY to watch UFC between two away games after an lackluster performance (lost against the Pelicans bench) while Jokić is out. He better drops 40 today or requests a trade. https://t.co/mP2KA8ewQQ
— bballbballer (@bballbball76593) November 17, 2024
It did not help Murray’s case that he struggled in the two contests, which both resulted in losses. He scored 16 points on 6/16 shooting and 2/8 from three-point range against the Pelicans. He was not much better against the Grizzlies, tallying 13 points on 6/15 shooting with 6 turnovers.
Given the gargantuan contract Murray signed in the offseason, it’s not surprising for Nuggets fans to expect more from their franchise guard.
