“OKC and Cleveland in the Finals. That’s what I know will happen for a fact.” Shaquille O’Neal is very bullish on the Thunder and the Cavaliers contending for the coveted spot. He even hyped Evan Mobley for his contribution to uplifting the Cavs. Similarly, he has made another prediction this time for the second-best team in the West. Instead of naming the member of the Big Man Alliance, Nikola Jokic, Shaq appreciated the guard who had turned around his form.

During the recent Inside the NBA show, Charles Barkley quizzed his co-analyst about the second-best team in the West. The Lakers legend replied, “Denver. ‘Cause Jamal’s been stepping up last couple of games.”

And it was one of those occasions when even Chuck agreed with Shaq. “I agree with you. I watched them play, but I still think they need to make a trade to get better on the bench,” Shaquille O’Neal’s analysis of Jamal Muray has been spot-on.

The Canadian superstar is often considered a postseason player. In November this season, the 27-year-old averaged just 17.8 points per game. The Nuggets team relied on Joker and Westbrook to guide them early in the season.

That’s why Shaquille O’Neal questioned, “Now that Westbrook is playing great, Mr. Murray, where have you been? I promise you that if you reach the level that earned you a championship, you will be champions again.” Incidentally, ever since this statement, the Nuggets guard hasn’t looked back.

It was during the TNT Tuesday broadcast before the clash against the Mavs where Murray dropped 32 points in the first half which earned him a place alongside three other Denver players who did the same.

He joined Jokic, Allen Iverson, and Nick Van Exel as the only Nuggets players to score 30+ in a half in the play-by-play era (1997-98). Despite having the Joker alongside him, Murray would end up on a game-high 45 points where no one else reached 15 on the night. Still, when Shaq raised an eyebrow, Murray agreed.

Jamal Murray agrees with Shaquille O’Neal’s criticism

Not just scoring in that game, the Kentucky alum has been the top scorer in the last two of the three games. And missed being on the top by just one point in the last game against the Orlando Magic, where he scored 19. Meanwhile, Jokic and Braun ended the night with a game-high 20 points each. The change in form for Murray has not only been because of Shaq’s feedback.

“He’s 100% right. In games like these, when I’m on, there’s nothing to worry about. That’s the sense of the group. When Jok [Jokic] is going, he’s going, but when I’m going, there’s nothing to worry about… I need to play better.”

The Nuggets star said after his halftime performance of 32 points against the Mavs. “I need to play at my best. I played terrible until today and I’ve struggled.”

Currently, with a 25-16 record, and the #4 seed in the West, their series against the Thunder the #1 in the Conference is tied 1-1. In their previous encounter against OKC, Murray was out with a concussion protocol. If he is fit enough in the future two fixtures in March, his form would be crucial for the Nuggets. If they win those games, maybe Shaquille O’Neal would call them the best team in the West.