via Getty
Hollywood, CA – July 12: Jamal Murray arrives on the red carpet at the 2023 ESPY Awards in Dolby Theatre in Hollywood Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The 2023 ESPY Awards will be held, celebrating the biggest moments in sports and athletics over the past year. Lil Wayne and H.E.R. are among those scheduled to perform. The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team will receive the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage; White Sox pitcher/cancer survivor Liam Hendriks will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance; and the Buffalo Bills training staff credited with saving the life of Damar Hamlin after he suffered an on-field cardiac arrest will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service. The list of presenters includes Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Mike Tyson, Peyton and Eli Manning, Travis Kelce, Quavo, Lil Rel Howery and Chris Berman. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
via Getty
Hollywood, CA – July 12: Jamal Murray arrives on the red carpet at the 2023 ESPY Awards in Dolby Theatre in Hollywood Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The 2023 ESPY Awards will be held, celebrating the biggest moments in sports and athletics over the past year. Lil Wayne and H.E.R. are among those scheduled to perform. The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team will receive the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage; White Sox pitcher/cancer survivor Liam Hendriks will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance; and the Buffalo Bills training staff credited with saving the life of Damar Hamlin after he suffered an on-field cardiac arrest will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service. The list of presenters includes Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Mike Tyson, Peyton and Eli Manning, Travis Kelce, Quavo, Lil Rel Howery and Chris Berman. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
NBA athletes and alternate or parallel careers have been in trend for a long time. Right from Shaquille O’Neal‘s rapping, and DJing to Michael Jordan‘s baseball career, they’ve managed to create a balance between two professions. Although the first love and primary focus is always the NBA, we’ve seen that it is not an unattainable feat.
Jamal Murray could fall into the same category as Jordan if he wanted to. Murray has a deep passion for mixed martial arts and believes that he has a future in that sport. To his credit, he has managed to impress the Featherweight champion of the UFC, Alexander Volkanovski. Recently, Murray unveiled his secret MMA wish.
Jamal Murray’s secret MMA wish
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NBA athletes are well built. Their physique alone can help them propel into another sport that requires more physical attributes. However, the MMA is a different ball game altogether. Much lighter athletes can create a real problem for someone from the NBA. However, we have our own representation in the world of MMA. The Denver Nuggets star is an excellent grappler, who showcased his skills against the 35-year-old UFC champion. Recently, the defending champion unveiled his wish regarding the MMA world.
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LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 23: Alexander Volkanovski speaks with the press and the fans for UFC 266 – Volkanovski vs Ortega Press Conference on September 23, 2021, at MGM Park Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages)
Murray was recently interviewed by the SIRIUS XM NBA Radio. When asked about his skills outside of the basketball court. Without hesitation, the 26-year-old brought up his love for mixed martial arts. He said that he has always considered himself a great fit for MMA. Additionally, he also made a tall claim about actually having a career in this field of sports. He said, “If I wasn?t playing basketball I?d probably be in [MMA]”.
?If I wasn?t playing basketball I?d probably be in [MMA]?.
Defending champ Jamal Murray talks about one of his skills off the court.
Hear more from Nuggets camp: https://t.co/XWDtRPGPGX pic.twitter.com/o6YSMNOprr
? SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) October 15, 2023
Although this is a big statement, considering the skills required to be an elite mixed martial artist, Murray’s skills have been co-signed by one of the very best.
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Alexander Volkanovski is impressed by Jamal Murray
It is one thing to be a fan of a sport, to actually have good skills is indeed impressive. About two weeks ago Murray grappled with the UFC’s featherweight champion and left a great impression. During a friendly sparring session with clear ground rules, Murray and Volk tested who would submit first. He held his own against Volk and right when the UFC champion tried to get him into a guillotine; the buzzer intervened.
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Despite the first-round draw, Voklanovski was impressed by Murray’s skills. He said that the NBA star is stronger than he appears. However, the Australian fighter ended up submitting Murray for a longer grappling session.
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