While most kids his age were playing computer games, Jamal Murray was out competing as a 6-year old against 10-year old kids. While the rest of us were at home watching TV, Murray’s father disconnected the family cable so he could focus on his game.

It was all worth it. In the off-season the Nuggets signed Murray to a five-year $170 million max extension. For a player that hasn’t reached superstar status and with his defensive deficiencies it’s certainly a risky play for the Nuggets.

Just ask the Timberwolves – the Andrew Wiggins five-year $147 million contract – they’re thankful now that they’ve been able to flip him out of Minnesota for D’Angelo Russell.

Murray is out to prove he’s worth every penny and he ain’t no Andrew Wiggins. The Nuggets are starting to become an increasing threat in the Western Conference and he’s an important part of it.

Related: The NBA 2020 Dark Horses: Denver Nuggets

In Denver the superstar potential of Michael Porter Jr. is coming to fruition. Add him alongside the pairing of all-round superstar Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray – who both led the Nuggets to a game away from the Conference Finals last season – this team really looks like title challengers.

The Murray-Jokic partnership has even drawn comparisons to the Shaquille O’Neal and late Kobe Bryant duo. As crazy as that may seem there is a connection between Murray and Kobe.

Last off-season Murray spent time travelling the world, running basketball camps and showing underprivileged kids how to ball.

As a part of his busy off-season schedule Murray participated in an invite only camp at Kobe’s Mamba Sports Academy.

“That was a very, very good experience to have that much talent in the gym, watching film, weight room, playing scrimmages with those guys, getting a feel for them, getting a feel for Kobe’s mentality,” Murray said about the experience.

The Canadian is naturally an intense competitor who is willing to do anything for his team. Learning the mamba mentality from the master himself only takes him to the next level.

When Murray got drafted by the Nuggets in 2016 he made it known what the Nuggets would be getting – “Just going to be an all-around player, the player that you can’t leave open, the player you’ve got to pay attention to on the court at all times.”

This season Murray is up on his career average with 18.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game pushing Denver to 38-17. Murray is showing us he’s the all rounder he said he’d be, but he’s taking it next level and finding consistency in his elite performances.

Murray’s last five-game stretch? A whopping 29 points, 2.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists. In another good sign his numbers are going up year-on-year as he continues to develop.

The combination of Jokic, Porter and a touch of Kobe Bryant through Jamal Murray may possibly be enough star power to win a championship. If the Nuggets do so, $170m will be money very well spent.