The Denver Nuggets' stock has been dipping gradually since they broke through and won the NBA championship in 2023, and heading into the 2026-27 season, there are plenty of reasons to be concerned over their chances of competing for another title. The Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray duo that continues to be the beating heart of this Nuggets' roster is still around, but they have significant depth issues brought forth by the existence of the second apron.

But as long as Jokic is on the team, the Nuggets should be a force to be reckoned with, at least in the regular season. But in the playoffs, that's when this team is going to be tested. To that end, Kendrick Perkins is urging Murray to take an even bigger leap into superstardom than the one he had already taken this past season.

“We need him to take a leap even more. We talking All-NBA. At this point, Jokic is doing more than enough. When is Jamal Murray gonna continue to elevate his game consistently throughout the course of the postseason?” Perkins said prior to the Nuggets' preseason clash against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, via Oh No He Didn't on X.

Kendrick Perkins on Jamal Murray:

"We need him to take a leap even more. We talking All-NBA. At this point, Jokic is doing more than enough. When is Jamal Murray gonna continue to elevate his game consistently throughout the course of the postseason?" pic.twitter.com/bS3VPr0g8u

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) October 12, 2026

Murray averaged career-highs across the board last season, putting up 25.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists on 48/44/89 shooting splits. The Nuggets needed him to do more as they faced an avalanche of injury problems last season, and he answered the call.

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At this point, it's hard to envision Murray getting even better. But at 29 years of age, he is right in the middle of his prime, and the Nuggets may indeed have to get even more production out of him if they were to keep up with their peers in the Western Conference.

Murray is also making over $50 million this season, and the Nuggets are paying an expensive price just to keep their core around. It's up to the 29-year-old guard, who made his first All-Star team last season and even made it to the All-NBA Third Team, to make sure that Denver made the right decision.