Keegan Murray is coming off a fabulous NBA rookie season with the Sacramento Kings.
The 6-foot-8, 225 pound forward averaged 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 41.1% from 3-point range. Murray set the NBA’s new record mark for made 3-pointers by a rookie. He was a two-time NBA Rookie of the Month choice and was chosen to the 2022-23 Kia NBA All-Rookie first team.
Thanks in part to Murray’s terrific play, Sacramento locked up the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed. He and Sacramento gave the Golden State Warriors everything they wanted in their first-round playoff series, eventually falling in Game 7. Still, both Murray and Sacramento made a statement that they are figures to stay in the NBA.
It’s fitting then that Murray’s next big statement comes against Golden State. Whereas others in his position might have opted out of the opportunity, Murray wanted the chance to continue improving his craft in the NBA’s Summer League.
He wasted no time reminding everyone of his terrific potential.
KEEGAN MURRAY JUST TOOK FLIGHT ✈️ pic.twitter.com/GL5Teug8DX
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 4, 2023
Poor Gui Santos. Wrong place, wrong time. And welcome to the poster. My goodness, Keegan Murray.
The Cedar Rapids native went on to put together a game-high 29 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field, including three made 3-pointers and 10-of-11 free throw shooting. It’s what Murray should do in the 2023 California Classic Summer League, but it’s nice to see all the same.
The future continues to shine bright for the former Iowa Hawkeye. Let’s hope his twin brother, Kris Murray, carves out a similar path with the Portland Trail Blazers. Kris was recently drafted No. 23 overall by Portland in the 2023 NBA draft.
Meanwhile, don’t feel too bad for Gui Santos. He managed to piece together a 19-point performance that featured three made treys in his own right, so all’s well that ends well.
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