DENVER — The late-season images were a source of confusion: Jamal Murray taking the floor before games and dunking on a surgically repaired knee. Nearby, Michael Porter Jr. launching his smooth long-range jumper following spinal surgery.
They painted a picture of the talented Denver Nuggets tandem on the cusp of returning to action. But the stark reality was they weren’t all that close to rejoining MVP Nikola Jokic on the floor.
Not physically. Not mentally. Not to compete on the playoff stage as the Nuggets were eliminated by Golden State in five games.
Now, they have an entire summer to completely heal — Murray from the torn ACL he suffered last April and Porter from another back surgery — and get this team back to where they envisioned.
“We can be the best team in the NBA,” Porter said Friday, “when we have everybody healthy.”
It was painful for Murray and Porter to watch from the sideline down the stretch and into the postseason.
Murray estimated he was around 85% back to top form. Sure, he could dunk, shoot and drive. But it was the other basketball situations that concerned him, like guarding, say, Stephen Curry, rebounding, running through screens or diving for loose balls.
For Porter, he said he could’ve perhaps played: “On one leg and stand in the corner and shoot 3s,” he cracked. “Would I have been at my best? I definitely would not have been at my best. At that point, it’s just thinking long term versus short term.”
The Nuggets understood. They floated the idea of a return down the stretch or in the playoffs simply to give them the option whenever they felt ready.
“When there’s an injury, the player has to have the loudest voice,” Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly explained.
Murray listened to his knee and how it was feeling even if he was cleared to return. He heard it from angry fans, too, about sitting out. They wondered why he couldn’t take the floor. He even took to social media to defend himself.
“They hear the word ‘clear’ and…
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