2016 champ berates 'anonymous player' news citing Jamal Murray report - "You wouldn't be whispering that s**t"
Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets got off to a somewhat slow start to the season, at least by their standards. They dropped their first two games and struggled to find their rhythm early on, even against seemingly lesser competition.
Notably, plenty of that had to do with Murray's performances, as the Canadian guard wasn't as efficient and aggressive as he usually was. He's also coming off a tough outing in the Olympics and has been rumored to be dealing with an injury, so some thought this could be the start of his debacle.
Apparently, an anonymous NBA player reportedly claimed that he was "easy to guard now," something that didn't rub some people, Jamal Murray included, the right way.
With that in mind, former NBA champion Richard Jefferson made sure to let everybody know that players don't actually take those so-called "anonymous sources" seriously at all:
"There has never been one ounce of attention or respect that has ever gone to something that says 'an anonymous player,'" Jefferson said on Road Trippin' this week. "If it was so easy, you wouldn't be whispering that sh*t."
The 17-year veteran also hinted at this story being fabricated by the media, stating that professional athletes are serious people, and those who don't live by those codes are quick to be ostracized:
"Anonymous sources is the biggest joke. 99% of the time, we all think it's a lie for the media to get out a story," added Jefferson. "In professional sports, cowards don't last long."
Jamal Murray bounces back after anonymous report
Jamal Murray didn't pay that much attention to the report, either, also poking fun at the anonymity of the alleged source. He's also been closer to his usual self over the past couple of games, which obviously helps to shift the attention and narrative in his favor.
So far this season, Murray is averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, all of which are actually higher than his career averages. He's shooting just 40% from the floor, but those numbers should only trend up as he shakes off the rust.
The Nuggets are now sitting on a 6-3 record after a slow start to the season, and Nikola Jokic is putting in MVP-caliber numbers once again. That's why it's never wise or accurate to make such big statements just a couple of games into the season, especially when talking about proven veterans and a perennial championship contender.