"Beals is far worse than Jamal" - NBA Reddit reacts to Nikola Jokic's Nuggets co-stars being ranked among worst contracts 

While Nikola Jokic continues to be one of the top stars in the NBA, his supporting cast has gotten its fair share of criticism. Despite their lack of production at times, fans came to the defense of one Denver Nuggets player amid some recent rankings.

During a recent episode of the "Dunc'd On" podcast, Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux ranked the worst contracts in the NBA. Each host put Jamal Murray in the top spot after he signed a four-year, $207.8 million deal in September. Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. also made an appearance.

Even though Murray has had his struggles, fans still came to the defense of Nikola Jokic's running mate. They feel he should be above a player like Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal on a list like this.

The 5 worst contracts in the NBA according to Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux byu/axnjxn00 innba

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At his peak, Murray was an All-Star-level player who thrived playing alongside Jokic. The two have had a lot of success together, most notably leading the Nuggets to a championship in 2023.

Even though his numbers have taken a slight dip, Murray is still one of Denver's top contributors. This season, he is averaging 19.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game while shooting league average from beyond the arc.

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Nikola Jokic makes NBA history alongside a pair of his co-stars

For most of the season, one of the main questions regarding the Nuggets is if they have enough talent around Nikola Jokic. In a recent outing, Denver's supporting cast showed how good they can be when they are firing on all cylinders.

On Monday, the Nuggets faced off against Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz. Along with picking up a 132-121 win, they also made NBA history.

Nikola Jokic was the top individual performer, recording a triple-double (36 points, 22 rebounds, 11 assists). Denver's playmaking was a major takeaway, as he was one of three players with at least 10 assists. With this performance, Jokic, Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook became the first trio of teammates to record at least 15 points and 10 assists in a game.

Over the summer, the Nuggets acquired Westbrook after he was traded and later waived. There was some skepticism about his fit in Denver, but he's managed to silence most of his critics. The former MVP continues to fill the stat sheet on a nightly basis, averaging 12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game.

Even with many calling for the Nuggets to upgrade the cast around Jokic, Denver has held their own in a competitive Western Conference. Their 19-13 record is good for fourth place, and they are only three games out of second place.