On the near side of the Nuggets’ practice court, the one closest to the assembled media, Jamal Murray rose up for a handful of basic dunks.
He posted up rookie Bones Hyland, moved on to a stouter staffer and then teased a return that’s been almost a year in the making.
Murray wandered over to the seat designed for player interviews, plopped himself down and asked, innocently: “Y’all want me?”
When several media members bit, that famous Cheshire grin spread across Murray’s face.
“I’m just messing with you,” Murray said.
On the eve of the regular-season finale, Murray still hasn’t made a determination on his status for the playoffs, but he knows everyone’s curious.