Jamal Murray earned his first All-Star selection, but it didn't stop him from criticizing the state of the game
The NBA released the reserves for the 2026 All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Sunday night. While players like Kevin Durant and LeBron James continued to climb the top of the leaderboard with their selections, there were several players who earned their first career nod.
One of those was Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, a quality point guard throughout his career, known more for playoff rising than regular-season performance. However, in his ninth NBA season, Murray secured the nod in what has been a career year for him across the board.
Jamal Murray's Comments On The All-Star Game
While there was controversy around players like Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Alperen Sengun being left off the list, Murray deserved his spot, no doubt.
A great accomplishment for a player who lacks individual accolades, Murray's response about playing in the game probably wasn't what many expected, with the Nuggets star hoping that the new Team USA vs Team World format can make the atmosphere more competitive.
"I really kind of lost interest in All-Star just watching whatever they're doing out there," Murray said. "I'd rather go on vacation if that's the basketball we're going to be playing...I'm a competitor, right? So I would like to play. I know Wembanyama will play. I know Giannis will play if he were to."
The NBA All-Star game has become an event that many true fans don't even tune into anymore, due to the lack of competitiveness most of the stars display on the court. While the NFL's All-Star game in the Pro Bowl remains a laughing stock, many still believe the NBA All-Star game can be constructed into a competitive contest.
"I want to be one of those guys that's known as somebody who is going to play hard every time he steps on the court," he added.
As the rosters stand now, Team World will be comprised of:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo*
- Deni Avdija
- Luka Doncic
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Nikola Jokic
- Jamal Murray
- Pascal Siakam
- Victor Wembanyama
Based on Antetokounmpo's timeline, he's likely to be replaced, with Adam Silver set to decide on the alternate. Regardless, it's a talented group of international players that Murray is playing alongside, including his teammate in Jokic.
While the idea of making a lucrative cash prize has been floated for the All-Star game, the NBA and its fans will hope that putting the international players against the top USA players will be enough to spark competitiveness, similar to the NHL's success with the 4 Nations Face-Off.