Jamal Murray had been in Las Vegas for a few days, which is enough time for the city to exhaust anyone. It was a Sunday afternoon in early July.
He apologized, “I’m a little hung over,” while trying in vain to recall specifics of his post-championship conversations with Denver Nuggets supporters. Less than a month had passed since Murray, the Nuggets’ ace point guard, assisted the team in capturing its first NBA title.
Alexander Volkanovski, the U.F.C. featherweight champion, had spent the previous night being honored after winning U.F.C. 290 to maintain his perfect record in the 145-pound weight division. Before the bout, Murray spent some time with him and was struck by how at ease Volkanovski was. Despite having a crucial match scheduled for later that evening, the fighter had been content to joke around and have fun with Murray.
For him, this resembles a championship belt, right? Murray remarked. “He was just acting so carelessly. It kind of reminded me that I don’t have to take my routine all that seriously as long as I know how to turn it on when I need it.
With training camps starting in about a month, Murray may find the lesson helpful as he gets ready for his upcoming NBA season. He traveled to Sydney last week to watch UFC 293 where Israel Adesanya was defeated by Sean Strickland to lose the middleweight title. spell there, Murray intended to practice alongside Volkanovski for a spell.
When Murray visited Australia in August of last year, he made friends with Volkanovski. Each of them went through the other’s workout regimens as they recorded a video. Murray struck a large bag. Shooting some free throws was Volkanovski.
Although there are some obvious contrasts between the two—Murray is about a foot taller than the 5-foot-6 Volkanovski, and Volkanovski is eight years older—Murray was someone Volkanovski could relate to in terms of work ethic and discipline. Volkanovski warmed up to Murray right away.
Few weeks after Murray joined him for U.F.C. 290, Volkanovski declared in late July, “I’m a Nuggets guy now just because of our connection.
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Phone. Keys. A wallet Brain?They became closer at a trying moment for Murray.
Murray missed the 2021–22 NBA season while his left knee’s anterior cruciate ligament healed. He had to re-learn how to walk, and he spent days considering his future in basketball.
Michael Malone, the coach of the Nuggets, recounted that Murray had inquired, with tears in his eyes, whether the Nuggets were going to move him due to his injury.
Murray resumed playing NBA basketball in the fall of 2022.
For the most of the season, Denver owned the best record in the Western Conference. As Murray gained confidence, he and the team’s star center Nikola Jokic developed into a formidable duo. They made history by being the first teammates to record triple-doubles with at least 30 points in the same game during the playoffs.
Murray stated in July, “I’m still coming back, though. “I lacked a full off-season to rest and heal. or practice what I desired. I focused exclusively on developing this strength over the past summer.
He gave his knee a pat.
The end was reached. I was unable to develop my game.
There was no time for humor because he had put all of his effort into his comeback and had taken his pregame ritual very seriously.
In June, the Denver Nuggets won the NBA title by defeating the Miami Heat in five games. Murray was in the passenger seat of a black sedan that night as he exited the Denver arena and occasionally lowered down his window to greet onlookers. Around one in the morning, a fan saw Murray crossing the street at a stoplight. Murray received a bear hug from her through the car window as she ran over to him. Murray accepted the hug from the stranger and grinned in return rather than avoiding touch.
Murray remarked, “Everyone is simply trying to be a part of the experience, which is really amazing.
He joined Volkanovski for his championship match around four weeks later.
Murray observed a different approach to preparation there than he had during the season.
I’ll undoubtedly have a moment during the car ride when I’ll think, “There’s no way they’re taking this belt away from me. However, I’m generally quite laid-back,” Volkanovski remarked. “I’m glad to laugh a little.”
The brutal nature of mixed martial arts, according to Volkanovski, may have piqued Murray’s interest in Volkanovski’s laid-back approach prior to the battle.
According to Volkanovski, “This guy is about to go to war and he literally treats it as, you know, this is his job, he knows he’ll be fine.” “He is obviously confident in his planning and everything else.”
While Volkanovski liked that Murray looked to his method for inspiration, he also respected Murray’s process.
“Everyone has their own way of preparing for their — whatever they do,” said Volkanovski. And you can never criticize it because he obviously plays excellent basketball, so you don’t want to make many changes.
In July, Murray stayed for Volkanovski’s post-fight press conferences before partying with Shaquille O’Neal at another event. At least there was an opportunity to relax throughout the summer.