Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray enters the season with tremendous expectations as the fourth pick, but he isn’t taking anything for granted and is prepared to earn his role in training camp.
The high expectations on Murray may have even reached another level over the offseason after a tremendous run in summer league. He led all players in scoring in the California Classic and was also named Most Valuable Player of the Las Vegas Summer League.
Murray was viewed as a tremendous addition to the roster and is part of heightened expectations under new head coach Mike Brown. It remains to be seen if Murray will start or not, but he has the potential to be a key player for the team.
He enters training camp this week ready to prove himself.
Everything has to be earned for me. I’m not taking anything for granted. I don’t know if that’s going to come easy for me here or when we play the other NBA teams. I know I have to earn everything that I’m given. I want to work for that.
Said Brown:
We don’t have any expectations on him that aren’t out of the ordinary. I expect him to show up, play hard and be a great teammate. Those are really the only things I expect from him and whatever else he shows on a day-to-day basis will dictate what he earns.
Murray could have a difficult path to reach the starting lineup with Domantas Sabonis, Richaun Holmes and Trey Lyles seemingly ahead of him in the frontcourt. The team could bring him off the bench, but that is far from decided.
He continues to get more comfortable within the Kings’ system and is nearly back to 100% following offseason wrist surgery. He is one of the favorites for Rookie of the Year and will likely have a great chance to win it if he can step in and produce on a nightly basis.
One thing is clear, though: Murray seems determined to solidify his place in the rotation. He has the potential to affect games on both ends of the floor and could help the Kings get a quick start as they look to end their playoff drought.
Sacramento begins its preseason schedule on Monday.
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