Nuggets' Murray dismisses 'Bubble' nickname: I've proved myself many times

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray has been here before.

After Saturday's 125-107 blowout victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the second round, Murray refuted the idea that he's a one-hit wonder, saying that he doesn't need to be "Bubble Murray" to perform at a high level.

"I don't how many times I gotta prove myself for y'all to believe in my game or believe in what I do, or my health or whatever it is," he said postgame on TNT. "I can only just keep doing it, and keep trending (up), and prove everybody wrong."

Murray finished with a game-high 34 points and nine assists, shooting 6-for-10 from distance for the Nuggets.

The Canadian guard is seeing his first postseason action since 2020, when Murray erupted for several outstanding performances in the NBA bubble, leading to the "Bubble Murray" nickname. He racked up four games of 40-plus points, including two 50-point games, as the Nuggets made their first conference finals appearance with the core of Murray and Nikola Jokic.

Murray suffered a torn ACL in April 2021, sidelining him for the 2021 postseason and the entire following campaign.

In his absence, the Nuggets were swept by the Suns in the second round of the 2021 playoffs before losing 4-1 in the first round to the Golden State Warriors last year.

Murray returned to the floor at the start of this season. He averaged 20 points and a career-high 6.2 assists in 65 contests, helping Denver earn the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

The 26-year-old says he's glad to be playing at a high level again in the games that matter most.

"Those moments that you dream of as a kid ... you live for those moments," Murray said.

"I've been waiting for a while to be healthy, to be back and playing at this level during this time of year, so it just felt good to feel it and have the crowd behind me, the crowd behind us, the team right behind me when I turn around."