“He deserves this”: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Jamal Murray’s first NBA All-Star selection

For the first time in franchise history, the Denver Nuggets will be represented by two National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Stars in the upcoming All-Star Game, as three-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic is joined by teammate Jamal Murray.

While Jokic has long been the face of the Nuggets, Murray’s selection marks a significant milestone in his career. Despite playing a critical role in Denver’s 2023 NBA championship run, this is the first time Murray has earned All-Star honors—a recognition many believe is long overdue. The versatile point guard has carried the team in Jokic’s absence, stepping up during a stretch where the reigning MVP missed over a month due to a hyperextended knee.

Murray has been in phenomenal form this season, averaging 25.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds on 48.7 percent shooting per game. His impact has been felt on both ends of the floor, and his fellow Canadian and reigning NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, expressed his excitement over Murray’s selection.

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“Well deserving. He is playing amazing this year, first and foremost. Really good player. He’s earned it for sure. Might be a little late, to be honest with you. Just take what they give you. He deserves this,” Gilgeous-Alexander said in a media interaction.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray selected to play in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game https://t.co/EmMd0KmSZj pic.twitter.com/xZNZJ1y7s4

— Canadian Sport Scene (@CASportsScene) February 3, 2026

The Nuggets’ pair of All-Stars also share a strong connection off the court as teammates for Team Canada, having starred together at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. Both players represent a new generation of Canadian basketball talent, building on a foundation laid by NBA legend Steve Nash, who for years stood as Canada’s most prominent player on the global stage.

“For Canada basketball, it’s cool. Growing up, never in a million years. Steve Nash was the only one. He was an anomaly. It didn’t make sense. He was short and athletic. It was flukey and shows how good Steve was. It’s amazing. It shows the growth of the game,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

He continued, highlighting the contributions of Canadian players who paved the way for the current generation:

“Hats off to those guys like Steve, Andrew Wiggins, Cory Joseph, Tristan Thompson. The guys that were in the NBA that paved the way for guys like myself and Jamal. They laid the foundation and we have been able to run with it. It’s our job to carry it on and think we have been able to do a pretty good job,” he concluded.

Murray’s All-Star nod is not only a personal milestone but also a symbol of Canada’s growing influence in the NBA. With Jokic anchoring the Nuggets and Murray rising as a consistent All-Star-caliber performer, the team now boasts one of the most formidable duos in the Western Conference. Their selection underscores Denver’s continued prominence in the league and highlights the emergence of Canadian talent on the global basketball stage.

As the Nuggets head toward the All-Star break, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Jokic and Murray continue to elevate their game, both for their franchise and for their national team. With their combined talent, leadership, and international experience, the duo represents a new era of Canadian basketball poised to leave a lasting mark on the NBA.

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