Harsh…but fair?

The Nuggets played the Mavericks for the second time in three days on Tuesday night, with back-to-back games in Dallas against the reigning Western Conference Champs. Denver has been playing well recently with the resurgence of Russell Westbrook and they just added a now-healthy Aaron Gordon back to the lineup.

Despite the team’s recent success and the fact that they’ve vaulted up to fourth place in the Western Conference, their number two option, Jamal Murray has been struggling mightily. Murray ended last season on a down note and had a rough offseason including injury issues and a brutal Olympic showing for Team Canada.

He signed a fresh max contract extension during training camp that alleviated some health concerns, but Murray didn’t exactly hit the ground running. He has had a tough season by all accounts and his stats and efficiency numbers have been down across the board. Denver was hoping to get the best version of Murray ever this season, and so far it’s been closer to his worst.

Now that the team is close to full strength, there has been some talk about changing the starting lineup. Westbrook has played so well that there have even been whispers about him taking more off Murray’s plate as a lead offensive initiator, even in crunch time.

Shaquille O’Neal rips into Jamal Murray for his play this season

Tuesday night’s game was broadcast nationally on TNT and a version of the Inside the NBA Crew spoke about the Nuggets during the pregame show. At one point, Shaquille O’Neal took center stage and began a monologue intended for Jamal Murray.

Shaq’s commentary was blunt and raw and he seemed to be addressing Murray almost like a disappointed father. He called out Murray for not living up to his standards this season and said that with the way Nikola Jokic and Gordon are playing, the team has championship upside, but only if Murray steps up.

Shaq ended his talk on a positive and optimistic note, explaining that he’s calling out Murray because he holds him to a higher standard and knows that he can be better. He said that if Murray can regain his form for the Nuggets’ 2023 title run, the team will win another championship.

Ironically, Murray went out moments after Shaq made these comments and played easily his best game of the season. Murray set his season-high in the first half with 32 points and ended up with 45 points and 6 assists on 18/26 shooting in a big 118-99 Nuggets victory.

Murray looked like he had an extra bit of pep in his step and was bouncy and active. He was consistently getting into his dribble, his first step looked quicker, and he was pulling up for shots in great rhythm.  After the game, he was asked about Shaq’s comments and said, “he’s absolutely right”.

Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come and Murray is finally getting right. Shaq did acknowledge that Murray may not be fully healthy, but perhaps this is a turning point. If that’s the case, we were treated to a reminder of how great Jamal can be and we will have to reevaluate the team’s championship outlook…in a good way.

See More: Picking the 2025 NBA All-Star Game starters, reserves

Should LaMelo Ball be an All-Star Game starter? Should LeBron James?

The fans say yes with their votes. Now, those votes will be mixed with votes from NBA players and select media, and on Thursday the NBA All-Star Game starters will be announced on TNT. The only guarantees are that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic will be starters, and some other fan bases are going to feel snubbed and head to social media to vent.

Here are my votes for the starters, as well as my picks for who should be the All-Star reserves. As a quick reminder, the starters are chosen by a composite of fan votes (50%), player votes (25%) and media votes (25%). The reserves are determined by a vote of NBA coaches, who must select two guards and three frontcourt players and have two wild card selections.

Western Conference All-Stars

Starters

G. Stephen Curry
G. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
F. Nikola Jokic
F. Victor Wembanyama
F. Anthony Davis

Reserves

G. Anthony Edwards
G. Ja Morant
F. Domantas Sabonis
F. LeBron James
F. Kevin Durant
WC. Jalen Williams
WC. Devin Booker

SNUBS: Luka Doncic (Mavericks), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies), Kyrie Irving (Mavericks), James Harden (Clippers), Ivica Zubac (Clippers), De’Aaron Fox (Kings), Alperen Sengun (Rockets)

The West is deep and choosing the reserves is brutal — deserving players will get left out. For example, in making these picks, I ended up snubbing the Houston Rockets, the team sitting second in the conference, by not giving them an All-Star. I’ll be the first to admit that’s not fair.

The last fan vote released had Kevin Durant and LeBron James as frontcourt starters for the West, but I have moved the future Hall of Famers to the bench to make way for guys I believe have earned it more with their play this season: Wembanyama and Davis. That puts a streak on the line: Will LeBron’s 20-year run of starting in the All-Star Game come to an end? Are we about to witness the start of a Wembanyama streak that should run for at least a decade?

Luka Doncic is the most challenging decision on the board. He is unquestionably an All-Star caliber player who led his team to the NBA Finals last season, but he’s also missed 20 games this season, including the last 12 (and counting). That said, he should be healthy and back by the time of the All-Star Game, and if he gets a spot, it’s hard to argue one of the game’s best should be sitting at home. Edwards may not have taken the step forward we hoped this season but he’s still an All-Star and the coaches should make him a reserve.

Sabonis gets a deserving nod for the Kings, but De’Aaron Fox is snubbed in favor of Jalen Williams (the Thunder need two representatives and Williams is more than qualified) and Devin Booker.

Eastern Conference All-Stars

Starters

G. Jalen Brunson
G. Donovan Mitchell
F. Giannis Antetokounmpo
F. Evan Mobley
F. Jayson Tatum

Reserves

G. Darius Garland
G. Trae Young
F. Karl-Anthony Towns
F. Bam Adebayo
F. Jaylen Brown
WC. Cade Cunningham
WC. Damian Lillard

SNUBS: Tyrese Maxey (76ers), Paolo Banchero (Magic), Tyler Herro (Heat), Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers)

The fan vote has the Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns as a starter — and he likely gets that spot when the starters are announced Thursday — but for my money, Evan Mobley’s two-way play and how that has lifted the Cavaliers earned him a starting spot. That said, no argument from me if Towns gets it, he is deserving.

The rest of the East starting five seems pretty obvious, although one could argue that Darius Garland should replace his teammate Booker as a starter.

Banchero would have been a given if he had not gotten injured. Tyrese Maxey also is a deserving All-Star dragged down by the 76ers team struggles, allowing Cunningham to jump over him. If (when) there are players who are out, Maxey and the Heat’s Tyler Herro should be the first in.