The Denver Nuggets are officially NBA Finals bound for the first time in the franchise’s history after the team got the best of LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
Ironically enough, former Nuggets superstar Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement ahead of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday night, which was linked to Denver’s success in a forgotten way.
According to Cresent City Hoops via SportsCenter, the trade that sent Anthony to the New York Knicks involved a first-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, which ended up being guard Jamal Murray.
As a part of the Carmelo trade, the Nuggets and Knicks did a pick swap in the first round of the 2016 draft.
The Nuggets used that selection on Jamal Murray 😳
(h/t @CCHoopsNOLA) pic.twitter.com/4sLkyn1Lbh
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 23, 2023
Although two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has dominated the headlines due to his incredible play in the playoffs, Murray has made everyone remember how good he was before he got injured and missed considerable time the last couple of seasons.
Murray was virtually unstoppable during the Western Conference Finals, with the Lakers having no answer for the 26-year-old Canadian.
The Nuggets star averaged 32.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game while shooting an impressive 52.7% from the floor and 40.5% from beyond the arc.
With Murray playing at an incredibly high level alongside Jokic, who hasn’t missed a beat in the playoffs thus far, Denver has an excellent chance of winning it all in the NBA Finals.
Denver will now await the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, with Jimmy Butler and company one win away from advancing to the next round heading into Game 4 on Tuesday night in South Beach.
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