Australia’s own Jack White is already making his mark at the Denver Nuggets, with star guard Jamal Murray revealing he’s quickly set a new record for the team’s 100 three-pointers shooting drill.
White was rewarded for his strong NBA Summer League form, singing a two-way contract with the Nuggets and joining the team after national team commitments.
The former Melbourne United and Duke captain hasn’t wasted time in making an impression.
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“He (White) holds the record for the Nuggets 100 threes,” Murray told reporters during a special appearance at the opening of the NBA Store in Melbourne.
The Canadian cheekily added: “I haven’t done it yet — but as of right now.”
In his first time visiting Australia, Murray admitted he “doesn’t know much” about the NBL, but remains good friends with Melbourne United forward Isaac Humphries from their days at the Kentucky Wildcats.
Murray is ramping up to a return to the court in the NBA pre-season following an ACL injury sustained back in February 2021.
The 25-year old admitted he had some doubts while sidelined for the Nuggets’ last two playoff campaigns, but says “time heals” and that it allowed him to work on other parts of his game.
Murray is excited for the upcoming season as the Nuggets — now healthy as fellow star Michael Porter Jr. also returns from injury and bolstered by off-season additions Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown — look to bounce back from their playoff loss to eventual champions Golden State.
“I’m feeling good, the more I play the more confident I get,” Murray said. “The worst part is missing two playoffs, I feel like I missed out on a lot.
“Now that I’m here now thinking how far I’ve come since then, it’s night and day. I wouldn’t have been the player in the playoffs I am now.
“You know our team is better than we showed, we just weren’t healthy. It sucks to lose to the Suns and Warriors, it didn’t go the way we wanted.”
Despite missing one-and-a-half seasons, the Nuggets will hope Murray can recapture his previous best form to co-star alongside reigning back-to-back MVP winner Nikola Jokic in the upcoming campaign to help Denver advance further through the playoffs — and maybe even contend for the championship.
If Murray can return to his lofty best heights — none greater than his superb form in the 2020 Playoffs played solely in the Orlando ‘Bubble’ due to the pandemic — averaging 26.5 points on over 50 per cent shooting to lead the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals, it’ll go a long way.
Asked by foxsports.com.au how confident he was of getting back to his form in the 2020 Playoffs, Murray said: “No doubt. That wasn’t even my best though, that’s the thing, there’s another level you guys haven’t seen yet.
“I’m excited, I’ve just got to be out there.”
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