Nuggets president: Murray 'wasn't 100%' in playoffs or Olympics

Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations Josh Kroenke attributed Jamal Murray's postseason and Olympic struggles to his health, citing an ankle injury "among others."

"When you're going against the best in the world, whether it's in the NBA playoffs or in the Olympics, you're gonna get (opponents') best shot," Kroenke told reporters Wednesday, including Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. "And if you're not 100% and you know you want to be out there still, you're gonna try to fight through it like Jamal is.

"But I know he wasn't 100%. I know getting him back there is a big step toward seeing the Jamal who was throwing up triple-doubles in the NBA Finals."

Murray's production declined as the playoffs progressed, with the Nuggets guard battling a left calf strain. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 18.4 points on 40.3% shooting, including a 33.3% mark from deep, during Denver's second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Murray's eight-point performance on 3-of-18 shooting in Game 2 versus the T-Wolves was the second-lowest postseason output of his career.

The 27-year-old didn't have much time to rest, as he joined Canada Basketball's training camp a month later in preparation for the nation's first Olympic appearance in 24 years.

Murray was expected to form a dynamic one-two punch with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt. Instead, Murray was largely ineffective off the bench, posting six points, 3.8 assists, and three boards per contest during Canada's run to the quarterfinals.

"The amount of games that he's played - the amount of games that all of our guys have played - and the wear and tear on their bodies. So I think that showed up toward the end of the regular season," Kroenke said. "It definitely trickled into the playoffs. And Jamal was also pretty banged up.

"I think that's something that gets underestimated because of how tough he is as a person. He was playing through some dings, some pretty good dings, that probably would keep most people out of games."