Denver Nuggets superstar Jamal Murray has relished great partnerships on the basketball court.
Thanks to masterful passing and shooting, Murray and his teammates clinched Denver’s first-ever NBA Championship in 2023.
As the Nuggets vie for another championship this year, Murray recently took time to visit North Middle School in Aurora where the basketball star celebrated younger athletes who also make the most of meaningful sports partnerships.
Cheers erupted in the school’s gym on March 26 as Murray made a surprise visit and stepped up to help coach a middle school basketball game that’s part of a unique program called Unified Sports.
Unified games pair students with and without intellectual and physical disabilities.
Unique Unified Sports program fosters teamwork and relationships for students with and without disabilities
Duos from North and Aurora Hills Middle School faced off and displayed far more than basketball skills during an afternoon game.
A visually-impaired player stuck close to his partner, who guided him from one end of the court to the other, where the student felt his way to a special lower basketball hoop and got to experience the joys of a dunk.
Some players who are on the autism spectrum wore headphones to block out loud sounds but loved working on their dribbling skills. Other students simply skipped across the court or hugged the basketball to their bellies and sprinted toward the basket, fighting off defenders. Yes, there was a ref at the game. But the man in black and white kept his whistle quiet for the most part and overlooked a lot of traveling calls, delighting both players and fans alike.
As hundreds of students in the bleachers cheered, the duos of typical and disabled students showed off kindness, sensitivity, teamwork and even some dance moves.
Felipe Avalos, 14, has Down syndrome. He teamed up with his brother, Jonathan Avalos, 13, who usually plays more soccer than hoops. Before the game started, Felipe strutted onto the court and wowed the fans with his breakdancing skills, including a stylish back bend. He later scored some baskets, prompting Murray to share his top coaching tip:
“Give the ball to Felipe, and get out of the way,” Murray said with a huge grin.
“It’s a lot of fun anytime I get to play basketball and put smiles on kids’ faces,” said Murray, who high-fived all the players and together with Nuggets mascot, Rocky, made his way around the entire gym to greet students who pulled out their phones to capture shots of their basketball superhero.
“I want to help as best as I can and want to see what’s best for the kids and to help inspire them,” Murray said. “That’s my main thing. Hopefully, they see me do that, and one day, when they get older, they’ll recognize the importance of it and do it as well.”
Murray was so impressed with the Unified game that he spontaneously decided to match a UCHealth donation of $5,000 with a $5,000 gift of his own. Aurora Public Schools plans to use the $10,000 from Murray and UCHealth to support Unified teams and purchase sports equipment. Along with basketball, the program pairs athletic duos who compete in track and field, soccer and bowling.
The Unified motto is this: “Playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.”
New partnership flourishing between UCHealth and Aurora Public Schools
The Anschutz Medical Campus, which is home to UCHeath University of Colorado Hospital, is located just blocks from North Middle School, and UCHealth is thrilled to be expanding its partnerships with Aurora schools.
David Mafe, UCHealth’s chief diversity officer and vice president of human resources for UCHealth’s Denver metro region, was on hand for the Unified game and presented a ceremonial $5,000 check after the game. He said the partnerships he witnessed on the basketball court reminded him a lot of teamwork he sees every day in health care.
“It was great that Jamal Murray could be here. We saw a bunch of people who came together with different abilities,” Mafe told the crowd. “We’re excited to develop our relationship with Aurora Public Schools.”
Support for Unified teams are just the beginning of a flourishing partnership with the health care system and the school district, Mafe said.
“We’re building learning opportunities so students can understand what life looks like in a health care setting,” Mafe said.
Many Aurora students would love to follow Murray into the NBA, of course. But others might achieve their dreams through careers as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and more.
“We’re hoping to develop a health care curriculum with Aurora Public Schools so we’ll have a pipeline of workers who are ready to go,” Mafe said.
A basket then a hug for her dad
Along with Felipe, other students dazzled the crowd.
Brianna Gomez, a 13-year-old with Down syndrome, fearlessly guarded kids who were two feet taller than she is.
And Allison Parada, an 11-year-old 6th grader, became a fan favorite when she scored a basket on her third attempt then raced over during the game to hug her dad on the sidelines.
Allison’s dad, Victor Parada, had come to watch the game along with his wife and Allison’s older sister.
Victor’s eyes welled with tears as he watched his daughter play, and both he and Allison sported huge grins.
“She’s a special girl. She has Down syndrome. I’m very proud of her,” Victor said. “Every team she’s been on, she just loves.”
Murray’s visit to Allison’s school was a huge win on top of a winning sports program that welcomes all kids.
Said Victor: “We follow the Nuggets. We love them.”