Now that Kris Murray has announced his intentions to declare for the 2023 NBA draft, it’s officially mock draft season in Iowa City.
One year after his twin brother Keegan Murray was selected No. 4 overall by the Sacramento Kings, it appears Kris Murray is likewise headed toward first-round status.
USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt put together his initial 2023 NBA mock draft and has Kris Murray safely inside the first round. Zillgitt projects Murray to come off the board with the No. 18 overall pick.
Of course, the draft order isn’t quite set yet. There’s still several games remaining in the regular season. Then, there’s the NBA playoff play-in games to determine the final pieces of the NBA draft lottery before the lottery itself in order to finalize the draft order.
Still, Murray as a first-round selection—and perhaps as a late lottery selection in some instances—will become the norm over the next several months.
Murray just polished off a season where he led the Iowa Hawkeyes to a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance while registering consensus All-American status.
The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native ensured that the Hawkeyes have had a consensus All-American each of the past four seasons and in five of the past eight seasons. Murray joins Jarrod Uthoff, Luka Garza and Keegan Murray with that distinction.
The 6-foot-8, 220 pound forward finished the 2022-23 men’s college basketball season averaging 20.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He was the only Division I player to average more than 20 points, seven rebounds, one block, and to have made 65 3-pointers this season.
He surpassed the 30-point plateau on four occasions and registered 25 or more points nine times.
“First off, I want to thank coach McCaffery, the coaching staff, my teammates, and Hawkeye Nation for an incredible three years. Growing up in Cedar Rapids and getting to wear the black and gold has allowed me to live out my dream and accomplish so much on the basketball floor.
“I appreciate everyone who has supported me through this journey and who will continue to support me as I chase my highest goals! Now, it’s time for the next chapter in my basketball journey. With that being said, I will be entering my name into the 2023 NBA draft!” Murray wrote in his NBA draft declaration announcement on Twitter.
The 2023 NBA draft is slated to take place on Thursday, June 22 from inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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