In the current age of social media reactivity and virality, there is one thing that is certain above all else - people will find a way to make a meme out of anything, and that goes double for the NBA.
Whether it's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeatedly scoring exactly 31 points, or Joel Embiid missing games against top teams, there isn't much that the NBA's internet presence can't turn into a bit.
One of the most popular of these jokes on places like X, formerly Twitter, has come at the expense of Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, whose tendency to have stand-out performances against elite teams, and somewhat disappointing games against lesser squads, has earnt him the label of a 'big game merchant'.
As far as social media jokes, this is as about as complimentary as it gets. Everyone knows Jamal Murray is a special player once the bright lights are on.
Why Jamal Murray is the player you don't want to see in the playoffs
Coming off of a dominant playoff run, Murray was the no-doubt second option for Denver, the running mate of two-time MVP Nikola Jokic as they secured their franchise's first-ever championship.
Murray has always been a significant playoff riser, and this went to another level in 2023, averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game, way up from his 2022-23 season averages of 20 points, 6.2 assists, and 4 rebounds per game.
He is also the owner of the highest career difference between regular season and playoff points per game, scoring nearly eight more points per game once the postseason starts.
Jamal Murray averages 16.9 PPG in the regular season and 24.7 PPG in the playoffs. That 7.8 PPG increase is the largest in NBA history (min. 20 games in regular season & playoffs).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 16, 2023
The 2nd-highest increase belongs to Nikola Jokic.
Lakers at Nuggets, 8:30 ET on ESPN pic.twitter.com/XGQmEHTexd
So far during the 2023-24 season, Murray has more or less followed that same script, contributing 21.2 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per outing for Denver, who sit second in the West with a 45-20 record as we head into the pointy end of the season.
No All-Star, All-NBA selections for Murray
Despite his stellar form, Murray is still yet to receive any real recognition for his efforts.
He once again was left off of the NBA All-Star rosters, despite many during the preseason assuming that this would finally be the year for him to break through.
Games played hurt him here, especially the 11-game stretch early in the season that saw him out for essentially the entire month of November.
Murray has missed 16 games total already this season, and has played under 20 minutes in three others due to injury: 9:30 against Chicago, 17:33 against Milwaukee, and 14:07 against Miami, which will see him ruled ineligible for All-NBA and post-season awards contention, as he will not meet the required 65 games with at least 20 minutes played.
While Murray insists that the personal accolades are not what he plays for, he did admit that repeated snubs are hard to ignore, telling Sports Illustrated in February that he felt he was deserving.
"There's multiple players in the league that should be All-Stars," Murray said.
"I think [De'Aaron] Fox wasn't an All-Star... Trae [Young] wasn't an All-Star. What do you want me to do now?
"I think you guys have seen me play at a pretty high level against those same guys that are All-Stars. I just go out there and try not to take it to heart. It is what it is."
But despite this, he and the Nuggets will be no less determined to seek basketball's greatest glory - the Larry O'Brien trophy.
If there's one thing we know about Murray, it's that he'll show up when it counts.
Jamal Murray standout games 2023-24
| DATE | OPPONENT | STATS |
| De. 25 | Golden State Warriors | 28 pts, 3 ast, 5 reb, 2 stl |
| Jan 19 | Boston Celtics | 35 pts, 8 as,t 5 reb |
| Jan 29 | Milwaukee Bucks | 35 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast |
| Feb 8 | Los Angeles Lakers | 29 pts, 11 ast, 7 reb |
| 5 Mar | Phoenix Suns | 28 pts, 9 ast, 7 reb |
