Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Jamal Murray is “devastated” after he was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
On Wednesday, for the first time since the Nuggets announced, Malone said they will be without their Star Point Guard indefinitely, and said the team could see Murray’s fears about the seasonal injury.
“It’s been an emotional 24, 36 hours,” said Malone before the Nuggets faced the Miami Heat. “Jamal is devastated, understandably. I think the team is kind of too. We understand the importance of Jamal Murray. We’re a better team when Jamal Murray is healthy. … He’s almost second in every major. [statistical] category on the team behind Nikola [Jokic]
Murray sustained the injury with 50.6 seconds remaining in the Nuggets’ 116-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday night. The point guard averaged 21.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 47.7% of the field this season.
With title aspirations bolstered by the trade for Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets were shocked late Monday night after Murray went down.
“It was really difficult. We stayed in San Francisco for that game,” said Malone. “Just sitting with him on the way to the airport breaks your heart because you can see the raw emotion he felt.”
Malone told his players to regroup and understand that they still have the opportunity to compete in the West.
“Clearly some roles will change,” Malone said. ‘I don’t want one person to think they must be Jamal Murray. That is not the case. It must be a committee. ‘
The Nuggets will have to go on without Murray this season and for part of next season. Malone said rehab for a torn ACL can usually take anywhere from nine to 10 months.
‘We love him. We’ve got his back and we’re going to help him walk this walk for the next year, ”Malone said. “I have no doubt he will come back as a better player, a stronger player. That’s how he was made. It’s in his DNA. I don’t expect anything less.”