Keegan Murray would thrive on any team

Remember when the knock on Keegan Murray during the 2023 draft process was that he was “just” going to be a good NBA starter? That was funny. Well, two years into his career, Keegan Murray is already a solid NBA starter. That tag is no longer pejorative, especially for Kings fans who have watched Murray quickly become an integral part of the most successful era of Kings basketball in over two decades.

Already a respected high-level shooter, Murray is entering his third year on a Kings team with the highest expectations since 50 Cent was the biggest rapper in the world.

Murray’s shot volume in Sacramento’s offense could decline this season, though that has little to do with Murray himself; the Kings added DeMar DeRozan this summer, and the six-time All-Star will inevitably shoulder a large share of Sacramento’s shot attempts. However, that doesn’t mean Murray’s role will diminish in importance. On the contrary. DeRozan is one of the best two-point shooters of this generation, but doesn’t often venture beyond the mid-range, meaning the area where Murray thrives – behind the arc – will still be ripe for opportunity for the third-year forward.

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Really good. By certain measures historically good through two seasons. Let’s start this section with some numbers.

Keegan Murray made 206 three-pointers as a rookie, the most in NBA history. Damian Lillard holds the NBA record for most three-pointers in the first by a player two seasons with 403. Not far behind him in second place is Keegan Murray with 389. If Murray makes 213 3s this season – an attainable number – he will overtake Buddy Hield for the most 3s made by a player in his first season. three seasons. If he makes just 3,359 more threes, he will pass Steph Curry for the most all-time. Getting close!

Seven players have ever made 12 3s in an NBA game: Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, Zach LaVine, Steph Curry, Kobe Bryant, Donyell Marshall and Keegan Murray. I’m not sure if Donyell Marshall makes this list less impressive or if we should give huge props to Donyell Marshall, who averaged 0.9 3s per game in his career. Sorry, we got sidetracked.

Murray isn’t a shot shooter either. He’s shooting 38.4 percent for his career (on 6.4 attempts per game), and that’s after shooting 35.8 percent in his sophomore year, which will likely be one of his worst shooting seasons ever percentage-wise.

Many basketball players can make shots. What sets great shooters apart is the ability to find shots on their own, and Murray seems to fall into the latter category. He is good at getting into open space around the perimeter and is always ready to receive a pass and quickly move up in a shooting motion. Even to shoot 15 three-point attempts in an NBA game are worth celebrating. Finding space often requires skill in itself. Making twelve of those attempts is (almost) unprecedented.

At this point in his career, Murray isn’t making much of a dribble, and that may not be because he can’t do it, but mainly because Sacramento doesn’t need him. On a team with De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and now DeMar DeRozan, Murray isn’t expected to be the nerve center of offensive creation. If he ends up being a guy who scores often in isolation, that will be a bonus to the production he already brings.

The phrase “3-and-D” has lost all meaning in the NBA, as players are tagged with that label despite not being good at the “3” or “D” part of the equation, but the role itself remains one of the most important. important pieces an NBA team can add to the team-building puzzle. Keegan Murray may be on his way to becoming a top-level 3-and-D winger, if his second season is any indication of things to come.

Murray became a reliable defensive asset for the Kings last year and emerged as the team’s best perimeter stopper as the season progressed. He is very good at getting physical without making mistakes and staying isolated from his man, or fighting through screens to avoid switches in pick-and-roll action. Murray looks like a nice guy, but he’s an idiot defending the ball.

And if this clip is any indication, Murray’s defensive responsibilities could continue to grow. It’s only the preseason, but Sacramento trusts him to pick up Steph Curry full-court is a pretty good sign no matter when it happens.

Sacramento has been a good team in the regular season for two seasons now. In 2022-2023, the Kings competed against Golden State in the first round, but lost in seven games. Last year they sent those Warriors to the Play-In tournament, but then bowed out to New Orleans in the Play-In game, which would have sent them back to the playoffs. With a new star on the roster, there is hope for a playoff series win and maybe even more in Sac Town.

Keegan Murray doesn’t have to transform into a brand new player to be good for the Kings. But for the kings Great, he’ll have to be that defensive stopper he showed he could be last season and get his 3-point percentage closer to his rookie season mark (41.1 percent). Maybe he’ll give Sacramento that aforementioned bonus and show off some creation chops as well. Murray is already a crucial player on the Kings roster, but Murray’s production this season could be the Kings’ fortunes.

Keegan Murray was ranked No. 22 in FanSided’s 2024-25 25-under-25, ranking the best young players in the NBA. Check out the rest of the list here.