Jamal Murray Reveals Why His Minutes For Team Canada Have Gone Down At The Olympics

Jamal Murray candidly spoke about his reduced role for Canada at Paris 2024, emphasizing the importance of being a team player.

4 Min Read

Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Jamal Murray is an NBA Champion and the primary scorer for his NBA team, the Denver Nuggets. However, he hasn’t been featured similarly for Canada at Paris 2024, playing coming off the bench. Murray opened up on his reduced role for his national team, explaining how everyone on the team is committed to playing their assigned role.

“I’m feeling great. Obviously, I was away from the team for a while, So, I’m not starting, but we’re a bunch of selfless guys that don’t need all of that. I think we have a great starting unit. Lu’s doing his thing, and Dillon’s playing amazing. Obviously, Shai, Dwight, RJ, so, guys come in; everybody has their role.” 

Murray used Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton as an example from Team USA, showing that high-level players just care about winning for their country and not their personal stats.

“You saw Jayson Tatum didn’t play a single minute. Tyrese Haliburton didn’t play. I think a lot of guys on other teams are starting for their respective NBA teams. So, it’s not an ego thing over here. We’re just trying to get the win. I think that’s why it’s a lot of fun because it’s a bunch of players from the same country trying to get a win and not worrying about stats or roles.”

Murray has come off the bench behind the starting unit of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, R.J. Barrett, Lu Dort, Dillon Brooks, and Dwight Powell. 

In their first game against Greece, Murray put up eight points (2-6 FG) as the sixth man, struggling to adjust to the Greek defense. In their last game against Australia, Murray played starter-caliber minutes but managed just five points (2-7 FG). He played 18 minutes against Greece before seeing a bump in minutes to 24 against Australia.

Players like Barrett are thriving as Canada’s primary scoring options, with Shai also taking a big role. The depth of guards on the national team is likely squeezing Murray out. He skipped last year’s FIBA World Cup due to the Nuggets’ run to the Championship, which has hurt the chemistry with his teammates on the court.

Murray is a microwave scorer, so all he needs is one game to find his shot and dominate. However, Canada also has Andrew Nembhard on the bench who many believe should become the primary sixth man for the team amidst Murray’s struggles. 

Canada won their opening two games and is guaranteed a spot in the quarter-finals. Murray should get to start against Spain in their final group-stage game to see if he can get his confidence back ahead of the win-or-go-home portion of the tournament where Murray or the national team can’t afford any mistakes. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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