It’s hard to have a better wake-up call than the one Jamal Murray received Sunday afternoon. “I was asleep. I was taking my pregame nap,” Jamal Murray said after Denver’s 121-111 loss to the Thunder on Sunday at Ball Arena. “A couple of my best friends FaceTimed me on a group call and b roke the news to me. I was a little in and out.” The news was that Murray was selected as an All-Star for the first time in his career, which started when the Nuggets selected him with the seventh pick of the 2016 Draft. He was selected as a reserve by the league’s coaches when the final All-Star spots were announced Sunday afternoon. “When I saw that, so many things went through my mind – multiple 50-point games, multiple 50-point games in the playoffs … let’s see, triple-double in the Finals, NBA champion, most wins in the West over the last 10 years and he’s the point guard of that team, 55-piece last year, 17 assists this year, NBA All-Star,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said in his pregame press conference prior to Sunday’s game against Oklahoma City. “In my mind, all those things make sense except for the one that was missing.” After the nap ended abruptly, it was off to the arena. Murray acknowledged a group of fans who congratulated him during his pregame shooting routine. When the workout was done, Murray gave his father, Roger, a big hug before heading back to the locker room. “I’m, honestly, really happy for my dad,” the Nuggets guard said. “He really wanted me to make it. He was telling me all summer how much he wanted me to make it. To be here now is nice.” Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, back, gestures as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort prepares for tip off in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Denver’s starting point guard entered Sunday’s game against the Thunder averaging career highs in points (25.8), assists (7.4), rebounds (4.3), field goal percentage (49.2) and 3-point percentage (44.7). He credited a long offseason for his best season to date after Thursday’s game. The shooting efficiency didn’t carry over to the first game since Murray became an All-Star. He finished 4 of 16 from the field and 1 of 8 from 3-point range for 12 points. He did dish out 12 assists against one turnover with five defensive rebounds, a steal and a block. “It’s his body, but I also think it’s his mind. He’s just not fighting anything. He’s just playing. The guy is so talented. When he just takes what’s given to him, so much success can happen. Everything about him this year has been really fun to watch,” Adelman said. “ “(It’s) a long time coming, and he’ll represent our team well in Los Angeles.” Murray becomes the first Nuggets player to join Nikola Jokic, who was voted as a starter, in the All-Star Game. The last time the Nuggets had two All-Stars in the same season was in 2010 when Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups were selected. “I don’t want to say he deserves it, because everybody says that,” Jokic said. “He was playing at a really high level, and it’s good for him to be there, to put his name on there, because he’s supposed to be there.” Jokic and Murray will team up on the international team that will compete against two teams of American-born players. The new format didn’t seem to mean much to Murray, but he did vow to play hard. “I really kind of lost interest in All-Star watching whatever they’re doing out there. I’d rather go vacation if that’s the basketball we’re going to be playing,” Murray said. “I want to be one of those guys that’s known as somebody who’s going to play hard every time he steps on the court and not just half-ass it.” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault gave Murray his flowers after he was asked about his own first-time All-Star, Chet Holmgren, during his pregame press conference. “First of all, congrats to Jamal Murray. It’s remarkable he’s never been an All-Star,” Daigneault said to start his press conference. “He’s a All-Star level player and very deserving this season. Since we’re here, I want to congratulate him.” The All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 15 at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome. Once that’s in the rearview, the focus shifts to an even more meaningful achievement. “I want to be All-NBA. I think that’s a bigger award,” Murray said. “I feel like that’s something you do all year, and your play shows all year, into the playoffs and all that. I just got to stay hungry.” ...read more read less