After scoring a career-high 30 points in an early April win against the Pelicans, Jamal Murray showcased his resilience, despite battling strains and tears in his core muscles. His coach, Michael Malone, expressed amazement at the 20-year-old’s ability to play through such discomfort, which would sideline most players.

“I don’t think our fans or probably even (the media) know how much pain he’s in,” Malone commented. “He’s dealing with a lot of stuff.”

When asked about playing through the pain, Murray remained steadfast, insisting, “I’m great. I feel no pain.”

While some may dismiss this as mere lip service, Murray’s eventual surgery to address two sports hernias three weeks later underscores the intense preparation he and his father, Roger, have undertaken for over two decades. This preparation began long before Murray’s birth.

Approaching the first anniversary of Murray’s selection by the Nuggets, his rookie season is marked by a father-son bond rooted in a profound emphasis on mental fortitude. Murray isn’t impervious to pain; rather, he’s learned, with his father’s guidance, to transcend it. This lesson was never more evident than during his inaugural professional season.

“I know that if I go through certain things, there is going to be pain,” Murray reflected, having played in all 82 games last season. “But I wasn’t trying to put that on my head. I would call my dad before every game, he’d ask me how it was and I’d tell him exactly how I felt. Then it got right back to basketball and he’d tell me what to do. It wasn’t like I was saying, ‘I’m feeling this or I’m feeling that.’ I just told myself, ‘I’m fine. I can play through it and I can do the same stuff I could do if I was healthy.’ ”

The motto “Mind over matter” sparked a smile from Jamal Murray, reflecting on his childhood in Kitchener, Ontario. From an early age, he accompanied his father, Roger, to basketball gyms, observing grown men dash across the court while sipping from his bottle in a stroller.

By age 7, Murray found himself pitted against players nearly twice his age, yet the most rigorous challenges awaited him in sessions with his father after other kids had left. Roger, who fulfills roles as father, coach, trainer, and friend to Jamal, recounts their early days of refining shooting form with free throws and jump shots. One particular exercise required Jamal to sink 30 consecutive free throws—a daunting task for a 7-year-old. As the counter reset with each missed shot, frustration mounted, but Roger’s guidance to “refocus” and “relax” steered Jamal toward success.

For Roger, influenced by the mental strength philosophy of Bruce Lee, parenthood was akin to fostering superhuman resilience in his son. His commitment to Jamal’s aspirations transcended basketball; whatever the endeavor, Roger pledged to support Jamal in becoming the best.

As Jamal matured, meditation became integral to his preparation, instilled by his father to sharpen focus before games. Murray’s relentless dedication to basketball often meant attempts by Roger to conceal the ball for rest were futile. Nonetheless, basketball flowed naturally for Murray, from his high school dominance to his standout freshman year at Kentucky.

Transitioning to the professional stage, Murray encountered new challenges, notably a rocky start characterized by overthinking and self-doubt. Despite early struggles, Roger viewed this as a crucial phase in Jamal’s growth, affirming the resilience honed through years of mental preparation.

Murray’s perseverance bore fruit as he emerged from his shooting slump with a dazzling performance against Portland, followed by an MVP accolade at the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend. As he enters his second NBA season, Murray remains focused on strengthening his body and mental fortitude, guided by his father’s unwavering support.

For Jamal and Roger Murray, the journey toward mental domination is a collaborative endeavor, a testament to the enduring bond between father and son.