Season Review: Keegan Murray

When the Kings selected Keegan Murray with the 4th overall pick last summer, it was viewed by many as Sacramento playing it safe, drafting for need rather than "best player available". The Kings themselves were adamant that Murray was the best player available and while it's still too early to say if they were right, he definitely proved himself to be one of the better rookies in the entire league over the season.

Murray finished the season averaging 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks in 29.8 minutes a game. He started 78 of 80 games, as well as all of Sacramento's playoff games. He was the only rookie in the entire league that had a prominent starting role on a playoff team. His offensive efficiency was also on another level for a rookie, as he set the NBA rookie record for threes made in a season with 206 on 41.1% accuracy. The only players in the entire league to make more three pointers on better accuracy this past season were Klay Thompson, Buddy Hield and Stephen Curry.

That shooting efficiency was incredibly key for a team featuring Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox, and helped the Kings set a record for offensive efficiency. The Kings also tended to do a lot better when Murray had it going. In the 47 games that Murray played and Sacramento won, he shot 43.8% from distance, whereas he was only at 36.7% in 31 losses. In games where Murray made at least four three pointers, the Kings were 16-5.

Murray's instant synergy with Domantas Sabonis was a big key in his offensive efficiency. The Kings ran more dribble handoffs than any other team in the league by far and Murray was a big recipient. According to NBA.com's shot dashboard, 294 of Murray's 501 total three point attempts were considered wide open (with the closest defender six or more feet away), and he made 46.9% of those attempts.

Murray looked a bit more like a rookie when trying to go into his own offense, but was still surprisingly adept at picking his spots and getting what he wanted. Before looking up the actual stats, I would have said Murray struggled when creating his own looks, but the only rookies last season who were more efficient on pull ups (on a decent number of attempts) were AJ Griffin and Malaki Branham. Murray definitely didn't try to create his own looks often (60.6% of his total attempts were catch and shoot per NBA.com), but you could see him getting to the midrange more and more as the season went along and getting good looks there. Following a win against the Memphis Grizzlies where Murray flashed a bit more shot creation on his way to 20 points, Coach Mike Brown offered some well earned praise.

"Most people haven't seen a ton of them, but his pull-up game is going to be outrageous. I’m telling you. Because he's got just such a great touch. You see glimpses of it in the game. When he aggressively goes into almost any shot you just feel like it's going to go in because he's that good of a player. He's that good of a shooter."

One aspect of his offensive game that will definitely need to improve however is his toughness going to the basket. While Murray did a good job attacking the rim off cuts, he had a few too many moments where he didn't go up as hard as he should have and got blocked or fumbled the attempt. His lack of aggression in attacking the rim also meant he had one of the lowest free throw rates on the entire team. But this is another area where Murray has shown glimpses that he can and will improve.

Defensively, Murray was decent in his rookie campaign. The Kings as a team weren't a particularly good defensive team, but Murray was far from the problem even as a rookie. Murray showed good instincts and effort throughout the season and will get better with experience. He's got a good foundation to build on, especially on the perimeter where he held opponents to 6.6% worse than the league average when defending the three.

Rebounding was another area where Mike Brown asked for Murray to step up as the season went along and Murray responded. Through the first 30 games of the season, Murray averaged just 3.8 rebounds a game. After getting called out by Mike Brown, he bumped that up to 5.2 a game over the rest of the season.

Murray's ability to be even-keeled has been much joked about, but it's also served him well in big moments. In his first three playoff games, the Warriors completely took Murray out of the game (partly due to their focus on eliminating the dribble hand off). He made just three baskets on 13 attempts in those three games. However, he responded with a huge Game 4 in which he scored 23 points on 9-13 from the field and 5-7 from three. While he didn't score that much again the rest of the series, he also didn't disappear, scoring at least 10 points over the final three games, including a big 15 points, 12 rebound performance in a pivotal Game 6 that helped keep the Kings from being eliminated.

Aside from De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, there is not a player more important to Sacramento's future than Keegan Murray. Should his game continue to develop, he can become the third star this team desperately needs in order to get over the hump and become true contenders. We won't know for a while yet if Murray was truly the best available choice at 4th overall, but right now, the Kings have to be pretty happy with how he's looked.

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I can't think of Keegan without picturing that video of Fox hugging him and Keegan trying to escape all awkwardly and Fox isn't letting go. Lol

I love this kid and am so happy he is a King. He fits the Fox/Sabonis core perfectly going forward and I think he will be the 3rd best player on the Kings next season. I still take him over Jaden Ivey everyday of the week.

If what I think will happen Murray will be the third best player on the Kings next year. With improvement on finishing at the basket and mid range shots the only reason this won't happen is what happened this year. He didn't get enough touches. Watching games this year Murray was open many times but never got the ball. If this happens this year it will truly be a sad time in Sacramento.

I keed. I keed! Sky's the limit.

&ct=g

The pre-draft knock on him was a lack of upside. This kid has a ton of upside. The knocks on him are things that are totally correctable. He has a mid-range game that can be unlocked. His limitations going to the rim and rebounding aren't athletic limitations, they are aggressiveness. He showed great BBIQ and a lot of skill. I could see him being a star level player as he matures physically a bit and becomes more assertive.

Funny how "lack of upside" is generally correlated with "not a great athlete", etc. Keegan has basketball skills, unlike many other "athletic" players that get drafted. The dude is so skillful and has the shot already.

Reach great heights, young man!

Keegan has some potential Kris Middleton/Paul Pierce upside to his game. I can see him breaking out next season and establishing himself as the clear third best player on this team. The Kings may already have a big 3.Middleton plays the SF alongside Freak and Brook, I’d like to see KM in a similar role as the SF. If MM can hit a homerun at starting PF, this team can make a Finals run next year.

I’m still seeing a Danny Granger/Rashard Lewis type player. Look at the career arc of Granger (minus the injures later in his career) who also came into the league at 22 and tell me you don't see the similarities. That all have that kind of graceful large wing speed to their game, much like Rudy Gay had. They always seem under control at at times surprise you with explosiveness.

IMO Reid also fits the need. Loves to drive and has a really smooth touch around the basket. Needs to work on 3 point shot but has it. Can defend the paint. Can rebound, Good weak side defender.He is 23 and has just begun to reach his potential. Improved every year in the league. Has a great motor. He doesn't have to score 20 a night as he would be your fifth option as a starter. As a kicker he can also play some center. Don't see many negatives. Fits Monty's timeline. I like him.

I like Naz as well.Devil's advocate- why would he want to come to Sac?Up and coming team, money is high, and he would have a chance or guarantee to start. He would not like Minny, realize that KAT and Gobert are always ahead of him (would be unless one is traded), think Minny has less up and coming status than the Kings, the money is better in Sac and the Kings have to be real in the start promise.another devil has to talk to Sasha and offer the same thing-except you can tell Sasha a chance to compete to start.

Is Reid a starter on a top team in the West?and, in keeping with the Keegan theme- Keegan has to step up. He surprised me with the 3-point prowess and surprised me in that his all around game that he displayed at Iowa just left him.I do believe that more likely than not he will move towards the third best player, diversify his game and get assertive.

I think Naz (and his agent) will take the biggest contract offer they get, regardless of projected role.

Yup.. This is his chance to get paid.

then that's better for the Kings.

This will happen as long as he gets the touches not like last year. In all fairness he was a rookie.

Just my gut thoughts, I don't think the Kings can have all of Barnes, Sasha and Naz (who is going to command good money in free agency). I think if you want Sasha to come over and throw money at Naz, then be prepared to let Barnes walk. That doesn't even take into consideration the status of Lyles, who also will get more than he made last year.

My going mindset, let all of Barnes, Lyles, TD, Metu, and Len walk. If push comes to shove, stretch Holmes. Free up the space to fill the holes of need. 1) Draft a combo forward at #24 2) Convince Sasha to come over for the Bi-Annual Exception (somewhere between $4-5M per year for two years). 3) Give as much of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (approx. $11M per year) it takes to sign Reid. 4) if there is space left in the exception go after a mid-tier free agent wing like Watanabe 5) Use the cap space vacated by letting UFAs walk and stretching Holmes to swing big for a legit big. Go get Brook Lopez and commit to playing Lopez and Sabonis 10-15 minutes per game together.

PG: Fox, Mitchell, EllisSG: Huerter, MonkSF: Murray, Watanabe, EdwardsPF: Sasha, Reid, #24C: Sabonis, Lopez, Queta

Looks good to me.

Got to thinking over dinner.IMOI would start Reid over Sasha, For one he has never played in the NBA and until he proves he is better than Reid I would have him as a backup.

One other thought Adamsite. What about Plumlee for 2 years if you can't get Lopez?

I’d just like to see a legit rim protector that is not a liability on offense. Lopez is a true stretch 5 that can let Sabonis play in the paint on offense and not get left to protect the rim all alone.

WTF?

Didn't tank for almost two decades. Why tank now?

Actually, the Kings did tank a few times during the drought. it just never paid off for them.

His summer homework assignment is to work on the handles/dribble drills a la Steph Curry.

I hope that he is happy here. He doesn't smile a lot.

OT—More Kings accolades!

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