Tag: Keegan Murray

Layup Lines: NBA’s heightened ‘transition take foul’ penalty is a great idea…if the refs let it be

This can be either really good or really bad.

Welcome to Layup Lines, our daily NBA newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.

There aren’t many things in sports better than an NBA game played without a lot of whistles and play stoppages. Add in two of the league’s best teams clicking at a high level, and I’m locked in.

Lately, though, those games seem fewer and farther between. Between the annoying replay reviews of flagrant fouls and players flopping to draw personal fouls, it feels like the referees are as much a part of the game as anything — so much more than they need to be.

That’s why news Tuesday that the NBA’s board of governors approved plans to heighten the penalty for the “transition take foul” was great to hear. Beginning next season, a transition take foul will result in one free throw and the ball for the team fouled (except for in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime).

This will hopefully encourage teams to stop fouling immediately after turnovers — and maybe even attempt to get back on defense. More importantly, it could eliminate one of the frequent ways game flow is interrupted while also increasing exciting fastbreak opportunities.

More chances to see Ja Morant or Anthony Edwards or Zion Williamson one-on-one with the rim … yes, please.

But I must caution, there is one potential pitfall to this rule. The NBA says the transition take foul doesn’t apply if the defender is making a legitimate play on the ball. But as we know, take fouls happen quickly, sometimes immediately after someone gains possession. If referees aren’t able to make that determination in real time — something they haven’t been able to do with flagrant fouls — it could lead to more instant replays instead fastbreaks. That would turn what should be a positive into a negative.

For our sake, let’s hope the referees don’t get this one wrong too.

The Tip-Off

Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The No. 4 pick in this year’s draft to the Sacramento Kings, Keegan Murray has been absolutely going off in Summer League. He’s scored at least 20 points in five of six games this summer. The other 13 lottery picks have six such games combined!

My guy Bryan Kalbrosky has more on how Murray is using this summer to show he’s a serious Rookie of the Year contender.

“I’m particularly encouraged by Murray because of the self-creation we have seen from him as a shooter. Murray predominantly shot off the catch while in college, but like Holmgren, we have seen him use the bounce more often as a pro.

Murray has connected on 9 jump shots off the dribble, per Synergy, compared to 13 through all of last season. This is how he is finishing 24.1 percent of his offensive possessions during Summer League, nearly triple his rate as a sophomore at Iowa.

All of that, of course, is without mentioning his defensive playmaking and athleticism.”

One to Watch

(All odds via Tipico.)

Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP

Washington Mystics (-205) at Phoenix Mercury (+4.5, -200), O/U 158.5, 10 PM ET

Elena Delle Donne is enjoying her best stretch of the season, scoring 26 points in consecutive games for the Mystics. Both resulted in double-digit road wins, so I think they’ll be able to get it done again in Phoenix. The Mercury have lost three of their last four.

Shootaround

— Hawkeyes wire has more on how fortunate Keegan Murray feels to have landed in Sacramento, from his interview with Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.

— The NBA offseason is far from over, so HoopsHype has a ranking of the top 10 trade rumors.

— Speaking of trades, here are 9 wild Donovan Mitchell trades from the Trade Machine.

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Kings’ Keegan Murray puts up fifth 20-point game of summer league

Murray continued a stellar run in summer league with another 20-point performance versus the Thunder.

Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray continued a stellar run in summer league with another 20-point performance on Wednesday versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Murray dropped a summer league-high 29 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists in 34 minutes of action in the 86-80 loss. He went 9-of-17 from the field, including 2-of-7 from 3-point range, and got to the free-throw line 11 times.

The performance was his fifth game scoring at least 20 points between the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League. The other 13 lottery picks have six combined 20-point games and only Bennedict Mathurin has multiple such outings, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Murray put an emphasis on driving to the basket more. He noticed that he settled some on Sunday in his second game after attempting 12 3-pointers. After a talk with assistant coach Doug Christie, he changed his approach and was more active in getting to the basket.

He has emerged as one of the standouts thus far in summer league.

The 21-year-old led all players in scoring in the California Classic (19.7 points per game) and is currently tied for fourth in that category (24 points) in Las Vegas. He has impressed on both ends and appears to be more comfortable each time he steps onto the court.

With two games left to play, it remains to be seen if the team will opt to sit Murray at all over that span but the fourth pick has proven to be one of the top rookies in such a short span. His play has to be encouraging for the team moving into the rest of the summer.

Sacramento plays next on Friday at 8 p.m. EDT.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Kings’ Keegan Murray has used Summer League to show why he could win Rookie of the Year

Murray told For The Win: “I haven’t won Player of the Year in anything before. So I think that would be cool.”

One of the best stories of the NBA 2K23 Summer League thus far is how well Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray has performed.

Sacramento’s front office raised some eyebrows when they selected Murray at No. 4 in the 2022 NBA Draft, one spot ahead of Purdue’s Jaden Ivey. The choice was met with immediate scrutiny. But the Kings’ brass was reportedly “unanimous” with the decision, which has already looked smart.

Although we have only seen Murray play during the exhibition games of Summer League, early returns on the sample size are incredibly promising. Murray has scored 20 points or more in five of his six games played thus far.

According to ESPN, the other thirteen lottery picks have combined for just six 20-point games. Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin is the only other player selected in the lottery who has multiple 20-point outings thus far.

When facing Orlando and No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero, we saw some early magic from Murray. The rookie nailed an improbable buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the game into overtime, showcasing remarkable poise.

He is shooting 39.5 percent on his 3-pointers, and if you remove his singular poor shooting performance against the Heat on July 3, that number would go up to 44.4 percent.

I’m particularly encouraged by Murray because of the self-creation we have seen from him as a shooter. Murray predominantly shot off the catch while in college, but like Holmgren, we have seen him use the bounce more often as a pro.

Murray has connected on 9 jump shots off the dribble, per Synergy, compared to 13 through all of last season. This is how he is finishing 24.1 percent of his offensive possessions during Summer League, nearly triple his rate as a sophomore at Iowa.

All of that, of course, is without mentioning his defensive playmaking and athleticism. Both are on full display in the clip below:

When I spoke to Murray before the 2022 NBA Draft, I asked him about his goals during his first professional season. Here is what he said:

“I want to win Rookie of the Year. That’s a goal of mine. I haven’t won Player of the Year in anything before. So I think that would be cool. You obviously have to earn it, though. You can’t just prance into the NBA. You’ve got to earn everything you’re given, so I want to go in with that mindset, and create a winning culture within whatever team I’m on.”

Murray opened with the fifth-best odds to win Rookie of the Year, as noted by my colleague Prince Grimes. The set opening line suggested an implied probability of 11.8 percent, debuting at +750 odds.

The odds have shifted in the weeks since then, but not in the direction one would expect. Murray is now at +900 on Tipico Sportsbook, lowering his implied probability to just 10 percent.

It’s too soon to say with much certainty whether or not Murray will reach his goal of winning Rookie of the Year. But considering how productive he has been thus far, that bet is an excellent value play.

Perhaps oddsmakers believe Sacramento’s frontcourt is too crowded by Domantas Sabonis and Richaun Holmes for Murray’s success to translate. However, with how well Murray is shooting the ball, I think he can likely play on the perimeter during the regular season.

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‘It’s been a blessing for me’: Keegan Murray right at home, starring with Sacramento Kings

Former Iowa star Keegan Murray is already starring in the NBA Summer League and says landing in Sacramento has “been a blessing.”

When the Sacramento Kings took former Iowa forward Keegan Murray with the fourth overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft, many on the internet saw it as a death sentence for the former first-team All-American.

Just look at the Kings’ track record in the draft over the years. They passed up on Damian Lillard in 2012 to draft Thomas Robinson, a big who would be shipped out in less than a year with the emergence of DeMarcus Cousins.

Ben McLemore, the No. 7 overall pick in 2013, never really figured it out in the league, and it hurts to see CJ McCollum selected two picks later. The Kings would follow that up with a trio of first-round busts in Nik Stauskas, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Marquese Chriss.

Of course, the worst offense was taking Marvin Bagley III over star guard Luka Doncic in 2018. Doncic is already a three-time All-NBA first-team member, while Bagley fizzled out of the Kings’ lineup in a few years. This blunder was immediately on the minds of NBA fans as the Kings selected Murray ahead of Purdue guard Jaden Ivey. “Same old Kings,” everybody said.

It might only be Summer League, but the pairing of Murray with the city of Sacramento looks like a revelation for both sides.

Murray has been on fire this summer league, averaging 24 points per game. He is scoring efficiently from all levels on the court and has been a solid rebounder. Against No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic, Murray got his first real taste of crunch time NBA minutes. He responded with a big 3-pointer to send it to overtime. All summer, he has looked like a star.

It is not just about what Murray has provided for the Kings, though. Going to Sacramento has really helped Murray early on. In a recent interview with Chris Haynes on his podcast Posted Up, Murray described his placement in Sactown as a blessing.

“I, fortunately, in a positive way, fell to the Kings and it’s been a blessing for me. And I’ve just been blessed to be in this position. I think this is one of the best organizations I could have been a part of for my rookie year,” Murray said.

As Haynes wrote for Yahoo Sports, Murray already feels a good connection with his teammates.

“That’s the great thing about the guys on our team is that they just fuel each other, no negative stuff, anything like that. It’s just fuel. You see guys on our team step up and they’ve been a blessing to me,” Murray said.

Few teams enter the 2022 NBA season with more to prove than Sacramento. The Kings have by far the longest playoff drought in the NBA at 16 straight seasons. The second-longest drought is the Charlotte Hornets at six years, and at least they’ve made the play-in tournament the past two years.

The only team with a longer postseason drought in North American pro sports is Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners at 20 years. Not good company to mingle with.

With their track record, every move is magnified and placed under an immense amount of scrutiny. The decision to trade a seemingly budding star guard in Tyrese Haliburton, only 22, for Domantas Sabonis puzzled many. Sabonis himself still remains one of the most underrated players by the media despite being a two-time All-Star. The decision to pick Murray was met with unease by many in the fanbase and laughter by others.

With new coach Mike Brown at the helm—don’t forget he was the NBA Coach of The Year back in 2009—Murray and the entire Kings roster have one goal: prove everyone wrong and bring winning basketball back to Sacramento.

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‘His teammates will love playing with him’: Fran McCaffery on Sacramento Kings’ Keegan Murray

Iowa’s Fran McCaffery raved about Keegan Murray’s fit with Sacramento, saying “his teammates will love playing with him.”

Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery was telling anybody who would listen that Keegan Murray would take a backseat to no player in this recent 2022 NBA draft class.

What others passed up was the Sacramento Kings’ gain with the No. 4 overall selection. Jacob Keppen immediately broke down why Murray was a great fit with the Kings from day one, and his 2022 NBA Summer League performances have done nothing to disappoint those proclamations.

Over three games in the 2022 California Classic Summer League, Murray averaged a league-best 19.7 points per game, shot 51.1% from the floor and 43.8% from 3-point range and grabbed eight rebounds per contest.

Through his first two games in the NBA 2K23 Summer League from Las Vegas, Murray averaged 21.5 points per game, shot 44.4% from the floor and 40.0% from 3-point distance and grabbed six rebounds per game.

Those numbers are set to go up after Murray dazzled in his most recent game with 29 points, seven rebounds and four steals in an 86-80 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Of course, that matchup featured Murray against No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren. In one Summer League game, it wasn’t close who the better player was on this particular night.

In short, he’s been as advertised. It’s no surprise to McCaffery who caught up with Jason Ross of Sactown Sports 1140.

Here’s everything McCaffery had to say about Murray’s Summer League showings so far.

Sacramento Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, live stream, TV channel, time, how to watch NBA Summer League

The Sacramento Kings will meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Summer League action on Wednesday night.

The Sacramento Kings will meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Summer League action on Wednesday night. We will get another look at Chet Holmgren for the Thunder while Keegan Murray will take the court for the Kings while both teams look for their second win of the summer league season.

This will be a good one on Saturday in the NBA Summer League, here is everything you need to know to watch and stream the action.

Sacramento Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

  • When: Wednesday, July 13
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NBA TV
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

NBA Odds and Betting Lines

NBA odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds were last updated Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Sacramento Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (-3.5)

O/U: 172.5

Want some action on the NBA Summer League? Place your legal sports bets on this game or others in CO & NJ at Tipico Sportsbook.

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Keegan Murray nailed buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send Summer League game against Magic into overtime

This game went to a sudden death.

Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray is one of the immediate success stories of the NBA’s Summer League thus far.

We’ve already written about Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren and Detroit’s Jaden Ivey, but it’s time to give some attention to the former Iowa standout as well.

Murray had two 20-point performances as the Kings went undefeated during a three-game stretch during the California Classic. Although his team was trailing by six with six points remaining in the fourth quarter, he continued that hot streak into Las Vegas.

Neemias Queta, who recently signed a two-way deal with the Kings and might be a little bit underrated heading into the year, hit a clutch 3-pointers.

Then a stolen inbound pass allowed Sacramento an opportunity to send the game into a two-minute overtime period. Under the spotlights, Murray displayed remarkable poise under pressure before connecting on the shot from beyond the arc right before the clock expired.

You can watch the unexpected sequence of events below:

Murray did an excellent job tricking his defenders on a wisely-timed pump fake while using a twirl action. It wasn’t the only time he used his fake in the game, but it was a thrilling moment in Las Vegas.

Plus, announcer Mark Jones had an excellent call of the possession.

Sacramento’s highest-ranked officials seemed to enjoy what they saw from Murray on the possession, too. Check out their reactions:

The game, of course, went into overtime. But that period also ended in a tie.

Afterward, the Magic and Kings went into a sudden-death double-overtime period. Murray defended Banchero well, but Orlando ultimately finished the game victorious.

Without much doubt, this was an outstanding finish to the game for two of the top-5 picks in the 2022 NBA Draft. When it was all said and done, Sacramento’s Murray finished the game with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.

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Keegan Murray led all players in scoring during California Classic

Murray finished off the California Classic on a high note, capping off a strong run for the fourth pick in San Francisco.

Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray on Tuesday finished off the California Classic on a high note, capping off a strong run for the fourth pick in San Francisco.

Murray produced a game-high 24 points, seven rebounds, three steals and one blocked shot in 31 minutes in an 87-75 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He went 9-of-16 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, as the Kings went 3-0 in the event.

The 21-year-old bounced back from a tough game on Sunday after recording nine points and nine rebounds on 4-of-15 shooting from the field. He put that performance behind him and looked to be in control once again to lead the Kings to victory.

Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez liked how he responded.

Sometimes there are bad games but he came in today and was aggressive. He is playing on both ends of the floor, which is very important not just in summer league but for the Sacramento Kings. That is just going to make us be a very good team. Very impressed so far with Keegan and now moving into Vegas, I’m just excited for him.

Murray finished the California Classic by averaging 19.7 points, eight rebounds and 1.3 steals in three games on 51.1% shooting from the field, including 43.8% from 3-point range. He led all players in scoring and field goals made (7.7 per game), and was second in rebounding.

Overall, Murray liked how he performed in his first taste of the NBA.

I think, for me, I feel like I played well. I feel like consistency needs to be there a little more but my confidence hasn’t wavered at all. I think this is a good start for me in my career and I just want to learn as much as I can going into Vegas because I know there are going to be good games and there might not be good games.

The early showing by Murray in summer league is certainly a highlight for the Kings. He was viewed as one of the most NBA-ready prospects in the draft and has shown that early on. Murray will now look to carry that momentum into the Las Vegas Summer League.

Sacramento tips off its stint on Saturday versus the Orlando Magic.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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NBA Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero early favorite to win in 2023

With the NBA draft completed, @Tipico Sportsbook has released some early odds for the Rookie of the Year award next season.

The NBA is full-steam ahead toward the start of the Las Vegas Summer League on Thursday as the incoming rookie class will have the opportunity to take the court for the first time.

The top picks in the draft will take center stage with the likes of Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. all debuting with their respective teams. Fans will even have a chance to see Holmgren a bit earlier as the Oklahoma City Thunder are also participating in the Salt Lake City Summer League this week.

Before those players even take the court, Tipico Sportsbook has already handicapped the class and released some early odds for the Rookie of the Year award next season. The race will certainly fluctuate over the course of the next several months so it will be worth monitoring how things will change in the eyes of the oddsmakers.

Here are the current odds for the 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year race.

Keegan Murray drops 26 points, shines in NBA summer league debut

In his NBA Summer League debut, Keegan Murray looked like a seasoned pro, making a statement that this is why he was the No. 4 overall pick.

In his NBA Summer League debut for the Sacramento Kings, Keegan Murray looked like, well, Keegan Murray.

Expectations were high for Murray heading into this Summer League. While the game does not matter in the grand scheme of things, the NBA has a narrative-driven media cycle.

Since Sacramento picked him, fans around the league immediately questioned the selection with Purdue guard Jaden Ivey still on the board. Unfair or not, the “meaningless” Summer League games actually play a massive role in how the narrative of Murray on the Kings spins. His debut against Golden State is a significant first step in proving just why Murray was a top-four pick.

Murray looked like a future star in his Summer League debut, completely dominating the game on offense for the Kings. In only 28 minutes, Murray scored 26 points and grabbed eight boards. He only missed four shots.

While the numbers are great, they don’t do his fantastic performance any justice. Murray wasn’t just scoring open buckets on bad defenses, he showed that he can score from a multitude of ways from the wing. Most impressive was his abilities from three, going 4-for-5 from downtown. He showed that he can catch and shoot quickly, even with a defender closing down on him. As the potential third option on the Kings, that catch-and-shoot ability is exactly why the Kings picked him.

It wasn’t just the made 3-pointers that impressed, he played with a great amount of veteran savvy for his rookie year. His off-ball movement is what ultimately led to so many of his buckets, showcasing his understanding of where to be on the court. When he needed to put his head down and get a bucket, though, Murray was able to work around the rim and from the midrange. It was a truly complete offensive performance.

Keegan Murray’s debut shows the potential that made Sacramento draft him. They desperately need a secondary scorer from the wing who can shoot. They need exactly the player Keegan Murray was in his debut, the player he was at Iowa. He might not be as featured with the Kings, at least not right away, but Saturday night’s game showed just how Keegan Murray can fit in with the Kings.

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Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

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