BEAR SIGHTING IN L.A.: Orangeville Prep Alum Jamal Murray Named NBA All-Star
OKC Thunder @ Denver Nuggets (2025)
Orangeville Prep’s own Jamal Murray has been selected for his first ever NBA All-Star Game, taking place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on February 15th. Jamal will be representing the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference, and will be there alongside his 3x MVP teammate, Nikola Jokić.
Murray’s Season Thus Far
Murray had been just short of making the All-Star team for multiple seasons in an extremely talent-heavy Western Conference. This year, Murray is having a career year, having increased responsibilities in the Denver offense with key rotation players like Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cam Johnson missing extended time due to injury. Denver currently sits in the 3rd seed in the West with a 33-18 record, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. Murray has been a driving force in keeping the Nuggets at the top of the standings despite a depleted roster, alongside Most Improved Player candidate, Peyton Watson.
Murray’s Season Stats (As of February 4th)
25.6 PPG
7.5 APG
4.3 RPG
FG: 49%
3PT: 44%
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
NBA All-Star Game
Commissioner Adam Silver has opted to introduce a “USA vs. World” format for the game, dividing the All Stars into three teams; two being American-born players, and one team being international players. Selections are made based on a combination of players, coach, and fan votes. Toronto Raptors Coach, Darko Rajaković has been named the coach for Team International, while the coaches for USA will be Detroit Pistons’ J.B. Bickerstaff, and San Antonio Spurs’ Mitch Johnson. The rosters for the prestigious event were announced last week, with the selections as followed:
NBA Eastern Conference Selections
Starters:
Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)
Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Reserves:
Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors)
Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons)
Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks)
Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers)
Norman Powell (Miami Heat)
NBA Western Conference Selections
Starters:
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers)
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
Reserves:
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets)
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)
Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)
Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Deni Avdija (Portland Trailblazers)
A Bear in The Mile High City
Before NBA stardom, Murray originated from Kitchener, Ontario, where he broke out into an elite NBA prospect during his tenure with the Orangeville Prep program. During his high school campaign, Murray racked up a collection of accolades, including:
Jordan Brand Classic MVP (2013)
Nike Hoop Summit MVP (2015)
Biosteel All Canadian Game MVP (2015)
This impressive resumé put the basketball world on notice - as Jamal would be recruited to the University of Kentucky for the 2015/16 season, where he became a breakout star, eventually securing him a lottery selection in the 2016 NBA, going 7th Overall to the Denver Nuggets. Murray was not the only Orangeville Prep alum to be selected in the lottery that year, as his former Orangeville teammate Thon Maker was taken 10th Overall to the Milwaukee Bucks.
10 years later, and Murray is still thriving with Denver. He is the 8th-longest tenured player in the NBA with the team that drafted them, only behind Stephen Curry (GSW), Draymond Green (GSW), Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL), Joel Embiid (PHI), Nikola Jokić (DEN), Dwight Powell (DAL), and Devin Booker (PHX).
Jamal Murray, Orangeville Prep (2015)
Not Satisfied Yet.
Making an NBA All-Star game is a dream come true for any NBA player, but the journey does not stop there. After the All-Star break, it’s back to business for Jamal and the Nuggets crew, as they pursue another run at the Larry O’Brien in June. Denver is poised to make another deep run, with a bolstered roster compared to last season, and expectations higher than ever.
Denver is hunting for their second championship of the decade, after coming out victorious versus Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals. A stacked Western Conference is set to make this year’s playoffs one for the ages, but if Murray continues playing at the rate he is as of right now, Denver should have no problem bringing the title back to the 5208.
With the NBA Trade Deadline happening Thursday, February 5th, it will be interesting to see what Calvin Booth and the Nuggets front office do to solidify their roster.
Who’s Got Next?
Jamal Murray may be the first Orangeville Prep alum to be named an NBA All-Star, but he certainly will not be the last! Having produced over 10 NBA players, Orangeville has stamped itself as one of Canada’s top talent factories. Will you be next?
If you think you have what it takes to be the next Jamal Murray, or if you want to train the same way that he did with Athlete Institute and Orangeville Prep, check out our programs below, because Success Has An Address.
Tune in to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on February 15th @5:00pm to watch Jamal and the rest of the NBA All-Stars go head-to-head in one of basketball’s most exciting and heavily-anticipated events of the year. Once a Bear always a Bear!