Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray discussed the journey of coming back from suffering a torn ACL on his left knee after winning the 2023 NBA Finals 4 games to 1 vs. the Miami Heat on Monday.
(via Denver Nuggets):
“I have to say that I had my doubts, and that’s just natural. Somebody asked me about butterflies. That’s what makes you alive. That’s what makes you care. When you doubt yourself, that’s what makes you try to find a way to turn it around. In whatever sport, in whatever injury, in whatever career you’re in, when you go through adversity, it’s how you envision and visualize yourself at the end of it. Zach LaVine was a big help. We talked throughout the rehab and we were still rehabbing at the time. So I’m asking, are you still doing this? are you still doing this? what should I feel? what should I expect? Gallo (Danilo Gallinari), [Victor] Oladipo, Klay [Thompson], all those guys have shown that you can do it, and I just wanted to be another guy to be an inspiration for those little kids that even at those young ages have gone through some adversity, knowing that when you put your mind to it, that will take care of itself. It’s just the mindset you have to have. I’ve been such a big mindset guy growing up. It’s just crazy to see it through, off ACL. This is fresh. This is a year out of playing, not having a year or a summer to really work on my game. There’s more to come from me, and I know if I can do this fresh off an ACL, still having sore days and everything like that, we can do this again.”
