“Yeah, I mean, that’s just a skill that if I wasn’t playing basketball, I would probably be in [MMA]. It’s my other love, I guess, for martial arts,” said Jamal Murray during an interview back in October 2023. The Denver Nuggets star’s love for UFC has been clearly highlighted over the last few years. From having a grappling session with UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski to facing backlash for attending UFC 309 during a poor performance period against teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, it is no secret just how fascinated the basketball player is with mixed martial arts. Unfortunately, MMA fighters also have to maintain their physique. Judging from what fans saw during his recent appearance at a UFC event, he can only watch his “other love” from afar, and not be a wilful participant.

The official X account of ‘NBA on ESPN’ recently uploaded a behind-the-scenes clip from UFC 317. The event, taking place at the T-Mobile Arena, will feature a UFC Lightweight Championship fight for the vacant title between former UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria and former champion Charles Oliveira as the event’s headliner. From the footage captured outside the arena, Jamal Murray was seen entering the arena. He wasn’t dressed too extravagantly for the event, donning just a black cap, an oversized T-shirt, and a pair of pink New Balance shoes.

However, it wasn’t his choice of clothes that was the ‘something’s different’ aspect about him. From the footage captured, Jamal Murray seemed to have gained some weight. Once netizens noticed this, they started taking deliberate shots at him. One social media user even wrote, “He’s already put on 20 pounds of fat since the season ended my f—— god”.

Well, it is the off-season. The next NBA season won’t take place for another 4 months. Therefore, if there is a time for the player to gain some weight, it is definitely now. However, if the past has shown us something, it is that NBA fans do not go lightly when a star player gains weight.

The same has hounded Luka Doncic for a long time, especially last year when he made an appearance at Goran Dragic’s Farewell Game in Slovenia. NBA reporter Jason Timpf wasn’t too kind when making a weight assessment of the Slovenian, stating that “It kind of got me concerned, cause then I was like ‘Ok, so we’re all talking about how Luka needs to get in shape’, but he kind of seems to be trending in the wrong direction, in that specific department”. Former Bulls player Jay Williams said “You can’t win championships if you have really bad habits and body language”.

Now, from the looks of it, it seems the same opinions could also be applied to Jamal Murray too. Especially since the Denver Nuggets failed to make it beyond the Conference Semi-Finals for the 2nd year in a row.

This isn’t the first time Jamal Murray has been accused of gaining some weight during the NBA off-season. Back in July 2024, a social media user had written, “Jamal Murray looking 15 pounds overweight as usual, nice to see he takes playing for his country as seriously as he does the NBA season”. Jamal Murray only averaged 6.0 points, along with 3.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists when representing Team Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His performance strengthened the netizens’ viewpoint. Therefore, despite the time remaining in the next NBA season, the player shouldn’t be giving people an excuse to presume his ‘out-of-shape’ stature would cause his performance to be poor at the beginning of the tournament.

If Jamal Murray has to make a change, then he better start as soon as possible. After all, one of the reasons cited for Luka Doncic’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers was his unhealthy habits and poor conditioning. With the Denver Nuggets having recently made some major moves, the ‘weight’ issue is just an additional black mark that Murray cannot afford to have on him.

Will new Denver Nuggets executive VP Jon Wallace push for trades of Jamal Murray and other players?

The Denver Nuggets faltered at the Conference Semi-Finals two years in a row. This highlighted the need for big changes to occur in the off-season. The team made the first ones only a few days ago by naming Ben Tenzer as the executive vice president of basketball operations, and hiring Minnesota Timberwolves executive Jon Wallace as the franchise’s new executive vice president of player personnel. As highlighted by Chronicle-Tribune reporter Pat Graham, Tenzer and Wallace will try to find ways to build depth around a group of players that include Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun. However, will the need for doing so prompt Jamal Murray to be used as a sacrificial lamb?

Believe it or not, but the Denver Nuggets had previously made attempts to trade the 28-year-old. According to an article by the ‘Denver Post’ published earlier this month, “former general manager Calvin Booth explored deals involving Murray last offseason before giving him the extension”. Taking trade calls is one thing, and making them is another.

Now, with 4 years remaining on Murray’s extension, and a total of $207.8 million to be paid out to him, Jon Wallace might be inclined to gain something better for himself. After all, this was the same person who recently highlighted his desire to avoid the restrictive luxury tax approach in the new CBA. This prompted him to, surprisingly, even suggest a Nikola Jokic trade by stating, “The wrong person gets injured and very quickly you’re in a scenario where, that I never want to have to contemplate, and that’s trading number 15”.

Jamal Murray costs a lot. His trouble with hamstring, illness, ankle, and knee ailments a few months ago does not speak well for him. Therefore, the last thing that he needs to give Jon Wallace an excuse to start considering him for a trade is being overweight. Be careful, Jamal Murray. You have been warned.