Comparing Steph Curry and Jamal Murray is fairer than you think

Jamal Murray left the 2020 NBA playoffs with a big statement. Big enough that many wondered if another Steph Curry-type shooter was in the cards. Could the Denver Nuggets young guard really be the next major threat in the NBA?

From what he and towering security guard Nikola Jokic achieved against the LA Clippers in particular, it is possible. It would be too much to say that Murray is 100% responsible for the next Steph Curry supernova season, as we saw in 2015. But Murray shouldn’t be fired for making a number similar to Curry. Here’s why he’s getting closer than some think.

Jamal Murray had an NBA playoff party

RELATED: Did The Denver Nuggets Ever Win an NBA Title?

Forty points, five assists, four rebounds … These are, as NBC Sports reports, Murray’s ridiculous numbers against the Clippers, who were almost insured candidates for the NBA finals. In his post-game interview, Jokic best described the mindset: “We just don’t accept that someone is better than us.”

That this happened after a 1: 3 against the Clippers makes the run of the Nuggets something legendary. This wasn’t only surprising as the clippers were expected to be much better. The Nuggets, and Murray in particular, simply didn’t perform at this level in the pre-bubble part of the season.

Murray’s basketball reference sheet shows little improvement in the regular season from his third to fifth season. The COVID-19 hiatus appears to have messed things up more than many assumed, essentially giving young players a second off-season to work on their mistakes. It led to breakout moments from unexpected teams, often led by rising stars.

Murray’s shooting warrants comparisons with Steph Curry

RELATED: How Did The Denver Nuggets Get Their Team Name?

When comparing Murray and Curry, context is everything. No, Murray hasn’t reached the staggering heights that Curry has at its best. But Murray is only 23 years old while Curry’s “Supernova” season was a seasoned 27-year-old who let go. In professional sports years, four seasons might as well be an eternity of development.

Then there is the question of the status of the long ball in the NBA. While there was a move towards an emphasis on three hands prior to Curry’s reign, The Ringer reports that few were ready for the Warriors approach. Curry’s ridiculous reach came as a shock to the system. Murray grapples with a league vaccinated against the long-range sniper shots that once caught her completely off guard.

Regarding her playoff runs, FiveThirtyEight points out that Murray makes a very similar number to 2015 Curry. Their differences are likely due to the limitations mentioned above. Curry took more than half of his shots from outside the bow, while Murray shot only 36 percent. This is noticeable when looking for a 1: 1 comparison. But Curry’s performance this year is precisely why Murray is generally explained by opposing defense, even way back from the three-point line.

The Denver Nuggets playoff run was no accident

Murray’s further improvement is likely, if not guaranteed. As for the nuggets overall, things are looking good. That playoff blast wasn’t confined to a breakout, even as it soaks up most of the oxygen. Denver has the depth of a young team that is about to make it big.

The wrestler reports that the Nuggets are a team with a blueprint that has not yet fully paid off. Their cohesion in the bubble enabled them to far exceed expectations.

This is a team with a core that just needs a little work, maybe another veteran to take on a strong team that doesn’t suffer from the Clippers’ chemical problems. Jokic and Murray are the centerpiece, but their real advantage is how well these two stars work together with their supporting cast.