Mar 11, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) reacts to a play in the second half against the Houston Rockets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Mar 11, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) reacts to a play in the second half against the Houston Rockets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Jamal Murray has always been a modest man who credits his personality to his humble beginnings. But a clip recently went viral on social media and falsely gave him too much credit for his modesty, so he made sure to correct it.
In a resurfaced clip from four years ago, the Nuggets star Jamal Murray sat down for an interview with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on the ‘All the Smoke’ podcast and revealed that he slept on an air mattress every time he visited his parents.
“This clip was from four years ago… Parents renovated and added a bed, but I still challenge myself in other ways… God bless!” Murray clarified on social media.
So Murray now explains that while the principle of staying rooted to the ground and being modest remains relevant, his parents have also upgraded their lifestyle as and when his career earnings increased.
The clip’s caption falsely claimed that Murray made these statements despite having $378 million in career earnings. However, when Murray made these statements, he had signed only his first two extensions and had two years left on his $158 million rookie max extension. He hadn’t signed his $208 million extension yet.
“I don’t really look at money like that,” said Murray in the clip. “I’m a pretty humble guy. When I go home, I actually sleep on an air mattress to keep my mental, to know where I’m coming from. I got a little brother who’s watching me as well. I don’t want him to see that you can get whatever you want, but you don’t take it.
“There are certain things you have to learn and go through, and I’m trying to teach him, at the same time, teach myself, that money isn’t everything. If I didn’t have any of it, I’d still be the same person I am today.”
Jamal Murray says he sleeps on an air mattress when he goes back home to stay humble despite signing $378,000,000 in NBA contracts
“I don’t really look at money like that. I’m a pretty humble guy. When I go home, I actually sleep on an air mattress to keep my mental, to know… pic.twitter.com/4sY0iLa3kg
— dank (@cptdankkk) August 22, 2026
For Murray, the objective is not self-denial for the sake of self-denial. As someone who came from modest beginnings, he wants to make sure that he never forgets his origins and the path that brought him success in the NBA.
Now, with three seasons and over $161 million in guaranteed money left on his contract, Murray indicates that he has begun loosening his purse a bit more, but as a sign of gratitude in giving back to those people and the community that made him who he is today.
Murray has slowly and steadily climbed the ladder of NBA success as the nine-year NBA veteran earned his first All-Star selection in 2025-26. He ended the season averaging 25.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 48.3% shooting from the field and 43.5% shooting from three-point range.
To avoid becoming unduly dependent on his wealth, he wants to maintain a sense of normal life. Like so many athletes before him, he fears letting fame and wealth control him. Because of this, he won’t allow himself to become too comfortable or complacent with his celebrity lifestyle.