How Bruce Lee’s philosophy helped forge an NBA champion
In short: Before he was an NBA All-Star, Jamal Murray was a child in Ontario practicing kung fu. Influenced by the teachings of Bruce Lee, the Denver Nuggets star integrated martial arts discipline into his basketball approach, eventually leading his team to its first-ever NBA championship.
The path to professional basketball for Jamal Murray began in Kitchener, Ontario, under the guidance of his father, Roger. A lifelong devotee of Bruce Lee, Roger Murray incorporated kung fu exercises and meditation into Jamal's training. This martial arts foundation became a cornerstone of his approach to the game, a discipline that saw him playing in leagues for ten-year-olds when he was only six years old. His father, who moved to Canada at age nine, even competed against future boxing legend Lennox Lewis during his own athletic youth. This rigorous upbringing saw Jamal playing against much older players by the age of 13.
Murray's ascent through the ranks was marked by historic scoring feats and remarkable resilience. After a standout freshman season at the University of Kentucky, where he averaged 20.0 points per game, he was selected seventh overall in the 2016 NBA draft. His career has been defined by high-stakes performances, such as his 50-point explosion during the 2020 playoffs and his role in the Denver Nuggets' 2023 championship run. The Denver Nuggets selected him as the seventh overall pick in 2016. During his time at Kentucky, he earned a spot on the Naismith Trophy watchlist and was named a third-team All-American.
However, his journey has not been without significant physical setbacks. In April 2021, Murray suffered a torn ACL, forcing him to miss the entire 2021–22 season. By late 2022, his comeback to the court led to unprecedented playoff feats, notably being the sole NBA player to post 50/40/90 shooting splits while averaging 30 points throughout the Western Conference Finals. By 2025, he had further cemented his legacy, scoring 55 points in a single game—a new record for a Canadian player in the NBA. His recent scoring exploits include a 52-point performance against the Indiana Pacers in late 2025. This performance featured 10 successful three-pointers, a feat achieved only by Aaron Gordon in Nuggets history.
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