10th Kings Player to Receive The Honor In Franchise History
The NBA announced today that Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray has been named to the 2022-23 All-NBA Rookie First Team. Murray is the 10th rookie in franchise history to be named to the squad and the first since the 2020-21 season.
Selected fourth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Murray played 80 games (78 starts) this season with the Kings, averaging 12.2 points per game, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists through 29.8 minutes. A former Iowa standout, Murray became the NBA’s All-Time Rookie 3-Point Leader with 206 3-pointers made.
Earlier this season, Murray posted his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a win at the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 18 and followed up that performance with a then career-high of 29 points (10-12 FG, 5-7 3pt) and 14 rebounds in a victory over Oklahoma City on Jan. 20. He became the seventh rookie this season with 25+ points and 10+ rebounds in a game and the first Kings rookie with double-doubles in consecutive games since the 2018-19 season. For his outstanding performance, Murray was named to the 2023 Jordan NBA Rising Stars and earned Rookie of the Month honors in December and January, becoming the fourth Kings rookie to win the award in consecutive months and the fifth to earn the award multiple times.
Among rookies, Murray ranked sixth in points per game, ninth in rebounds, eighth in field goal percentage (45.3%), second in three point percentage (41.1%) and tied for fourth in total steals (61). His 42 blocks throughout the season ranked seventh across the league and ranked amongst the top 15 for most blocks by a rookie in franchise history and the most by a rookie since the 2018-19 season. Murray also finished the season with 976 points, ranking for the most points throughout a rookie season since the 2010-11 season in franchise history and 18th overall.
Throughout his first 40 games Murray ranked third in NBA history with 95 triples. He also saw a 3-point field goal in 32 straight games this season, which tied for the third-longest streak by a rookie in NBA history. Murray finished the season ranking second amongst rookies in games with five or more three pointers (11 games), which also ranked for the most in a season by a first-year player in franchise history.
Murray joins Tyrese Haliburton (2020-21), Marvin Bagley III (2018-19), Buddy Hield (2016-17), DeMarcus Cousins (2010-11), Tyreke Evans (2009-10), Jason Williams (1998-99), Brian Grant (1994-95), Lionel Simmons (1990-91) and Kenny Smith (1987-88).