Keegan Murray is back where Sacramento needs him most: on the floor, healthy, and ready for the start of the season.
After a year derailed by ankle trouble, the Kings forward enters Wednesday’s road opener against the Los Angeles Clippers without the injury baggage that cut his 2024-25 season to 23 games. Murray said he is happy to begin the season after missing last year’s opener, when a torn UCL in his left thumb kept him out.
Last season unraveled in stages. Murray first suffered a lingering left ankle sprain on Jan. 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks and sat out 3-4 weeks.
He returned on Feb. 19 against the Orlando Magic after missing 21 games, then put up 41 points across three games before re-aggravating the ankle on Feb. 25 against the Houston Rockets. That ended his season and led to arthroscopic ankle surgery to remove loose bodies.
Now, after an offseason of rehab, the 6-foot-8 forward says he’s healthy and ready to go.
That matters for Sacramento, which badly missed the version of Murray that can stretch defenses and hold his own on the other end. The Kings tied the Brooklyn Nets for the league’s worst 3-point shooting mark last season and finished with the third-worst defensive rating in NBA history. Murray has been one of the few players on the roster with the range to hit big scoring nights from deep and the size and footwork to defend on the perimeter.
The upside has already shown up in flashes. On Dec. 16, 2023, Murray exploded for a career-high 47 points against the Utah Jazz, drilling 12 of 15 from 3-point range and adding two steals.
This season also brings a financial milestone. Murray is in the first year of the five-year, $140 million rookie contract extension he signed last October and will make $24 million. That kind of money comes with expectations, and Sacramento needs him to deliver like the quality starter he’s being paid to be.
The numbers from last season tell the story of how much the injury cost him. Murray averaged 14 points while shooting 42% from the field and 27.7% from three, both career lows. His availability also dipped to a career low, and for a player who has been central to the Kings’ plans, that kind of drop-off leaves a real hole.
There’s still plenty to like about what he brings. Murray’s 6-foot-8, 225-pound frame helps him battle bigger wings, and he has the lateral quickness to stay with crafty scorers. He also averaged 1.6 blocks in those 23 games last season, with disciplined shot-blocking that comes from staying vertical and waiting for the ball handler to make contact.
Sacramento’s direction is shifting, too. General manager Scott Perry drafted Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh overall pick and is leaning into a youth movement as part of the rebuild.
Even so, Murray remains an X-factor for whatever the Kings become next. The team has seen what he can do when healthy.
Now it needs him to show it again.
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Kevin Porter Jr. is suddenly in the middle of a front-office decision that could matter for Sacramentos backcourt. After being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, he is expected to hit unrestricted free agency, and the Kings are among the teams reportedly interested as they look for help at point guard after injuries and roster moves have thinned that spot.
Sacramentos pitch is obvious: there should be minutes available, and a real pathway to carve out a role right away. Minnesota is also in the mix, though, which gives Porter a very different kind of choice, between a team trying to piece things together and one with a clearer path to contention. For the Kings, the question is whether they can make the most of a chance that may not stay open for long. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Lose A Planned Starter And Keegan Murray Felt It Immediately
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Keegan Murray did not hide how much the injury landed with the group, pointing to both the severity of the setback and the difficult road Simmons has already traveled. The Kings now have to recalibrate without a player they had penciled into a prominent role, while Simmons faces the reality of missing two straight NBA seasons. For Sacramento, the challenge is not just replacing minutes, but absorbing the loss of a player whose presence was supposed to help stabilize the first unit from day one. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Guard Fans Know
Walter Clayton Jr. is suddenly back on the board after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the roster deadline, and the guard is already drawing attention from multiple NBA teams. Among the clubs monitoring him are the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings, two teams with very different paths but a shared interest in adding a young guard who could provide backcourt depth without much fuss.
Dallas may have the edge on paper because it has a two-way roster spot available and a pre-existing relationship with Clayton, which could make that an appealing landing spot if he clears waivers. Still, the next step may come down to something simpler than team fit alone: where he can actually get minutes, and how that lines up with the long-term direction he wants for his career. [Read more 🡒]