Keegan Murray

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Official Release

Today, the NBA announced the Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray has been named to the 2024 Panini Rising Stars for a second consecutive season. He is the fifth player in franchise history to be selected to participate in both their rookie and sophomore seasons.

In his second season, Murray is averaging 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 41 games while shooting 46.2% from the field. Among first or second-year players, he ranks sixth in points, second in steals and first in 3s per game (2.3). Murray is sixth in total points (645), tied for second in steals (48) and first in 3-pointers made (96) among rookie and sophomores this season.

Murray scored a career-high 47 points in a win vs. Utah on Dec. 16, 2023 as he went 12-for-15 from 3-point range, setting the franchise single-game record for made 3s. Murray’s 12 3-point field goals are the most in a game in the NBA this season while his 47 points is the highest single-game scoring output by a first or second-year player.

The pool of 28 players for Panini Rising Stars consists of 11 first-year NBA players, 10 second-year NBA players and seven NBA G League players.

The 21 NBA players, selected by NBA assistant coaches, will be drafted onto three seven-player teams. The seven NBA G League players, selected by the NBA league office, will comprise the fourth team.

To select the 21 NBA player participants, each NBA team submitted a rookie ballot and sophomore ballot featuring four frontcourt players, four guards and two additional players of any position, in order of preference. Coaches were not allowed to vote for any player on their team.

Points were awarded based on where a player was ranked on each ballot, and the players with the highest total points made the cut.

Panini Rising Stars will feature four seven-player teams competing in a mini-tournament consisting of three games. Each game will be played to a Final Target Score, meaning that a game will end with a made basket or a made free throw instead of the clock running out.

Sacramento has featured 18 players in the Rookie or Rising Stars Challenge dating back to 1994, with the most recent being Murray in 2022. Bogdan Bogdanovic (2018) and Tyreke Evans (2010) hold the distinction as the two rookies in franchise history to have earned MVP honors of the game.

Sacramento Kings All-Star Rookie/Sophomore Game Participants

2018 Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic (MVP), De’Aaron Fox

2019 Marvin Bagley III, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Aaron Fox

*Evans named to Sophomore Team but due to injury did not participate

**Rising Stars not played in 2020-21 due to the limitation of Health & Safety

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Keegan Murray Named To 2024 Panini Rising Stars

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray was named to the 2023 USA Men’s Select Team, USA Basketball announced today. The Select Team will train daily with the USA Basketball Men’s National Team from Aug. 3-6 in Las Vegas, Nevada, ahead of the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup.

A 2022-23 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection, Murray averaged 12.2 points (45.3 FG%, 41.1 3pt%), 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in 80 games (78 starts) for Sacramento. He appeared in seven games (all starts) during the 2023 NBA Playoffs, averaging 9.7 points (44.8 FG%, 37.5 3pt%) and 6.3 rebounds per game.

In his debut season, Murray became the NBA’s All-Time Rookie 3-Point Leader with 206 3-pointers. Among rookie league leaders, he finished the season sixth in scoring, eighth in field goal percentage, second in 3-point field goal percentage and tied for fourth in total steals (61).

For his performance during his rookie campaign, Murray earned back-to-back Rookie of the Month honors in December and January. He was also named to the 2023 Jordan NBA Rising Stars, competing for Team Pau at All-Star Weekend.

Joining Murray on the 2023 USA Basketball Select Team are: Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons), Langston Galloway, Jalen Green (Houston Rockets), Quentin Grimes (New York Knicks), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), John Jenkins (G League Ignite), Herb Jones (New Orleans Pelicans), Eric Mika (G League Ignite), Trey Murphy (New Orleans Pelicans), Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics), Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder).

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Keegan Murray Named To 2023 USA Men’s Select Team

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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.&nbsp;

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.&nbsp;

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).

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Keegan Murray Named To 2022-23 All-NBA Rookie First Team

Jonathan Bradley

Keegan Murray needed just 20 minutes to show the rest of the league what many Sacramento Kings fans already knew – the kid can play.  

Murray, fresh off&nbsp;being named NBA Summer League MVP, put up a game-high 16 points to go with six rebounds and two steals in his NBA preseason debut Monday night.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I feel like I’m in really good shape, so just getting up and down the court is not really a problem for me,” Murray said. “Obviously, the physicality is a lot different. So, I feel like that’s the biggest adjustment for me. Just pick spots to be physical, guys are more physical and things like that.”&nbsp;

The Iowa native did not start for the Kings but made his presence felt as soon as he entered the game for Kevin Huerter at the 5:58 mark of the first quarter. Murray logged his first shot of the game 11 seconds later and recorded his first NBA bucket off a Davion Mitchell assist with 2:05 left to play in the frame.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The rook really found his groove in the third quarter. His stanza-opening floater at the 11:31 mark helped cut the deficit to three, 46-43, and sparked a 26-7 run by the Kings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Murray capped the run with a deep jumper from 21 feet – his ninth point of the quarter -- to give Sacramento a commanding 67-53 lead&nbsp;

The bucket also marked the end of the night for Murray, who also led the team in rebounds and finished with a game-high plus/minus at plus-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Whenever I’m on the basketball court I feel comfortable,” Murray said. “It doesn’t matter who’s lined up across from me, I just play the game.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Murray and the rest of the new-look Kings return to action this Sunday when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers at home.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Keegan Murray Shines in NBA Preseason Debut

Confident, elite, and even-keeled are just a few words to describe Keegan Murray's final season at Iowa. As we break down his best five games, you will learn that the Kings first-round draft pick is undeniably efficient.  

Before the "Murray Miracle" during the 2022 NBA Summer League, Murray caught the college basketball world by surprise in his breakout sophomore year.&nbsp;

Murray's productivity on the court was the main reason his draft stock exploded. During his time with the Hawkeyes, he averaged 23.5 points per game while shooting 39.8% from deep. &nbsp;

As the anticipation steadily grows for opening night, let us take it back at Murray's top 5 games during his collegiate career, starting with his monstrous game against North Carolina Central Eagles.&nbsp;

Keegan vs. North Carolina Central 11.16.21 

27 points and 21 rebounds. Come on, man. &nbsp;

Murray played like a man amongst boys, becoming the first Hawkeye to grab at least 20 rebounds in a game since Greg Brunner had 23 against Minnesota in 2006.&nbsp;

In his dominant performance, Murray displayed his dribbling and playmaking abilities in the open court. In only his third game of the season, Murray already had the world on notice.&nbsp;

Building up from non-conference play, he would give everyone in the Big Ten fits, starting with Minnesota.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the game against Minnesota, Keegan continued to do Keegan things. Murray dropped 24 points while also tallying 15 rebounds, marking his sixth double-double of the season.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Becoming a trend in the Big Ten, Murray was the most efficient player in college. Defenders struggled to guard Murray when he was in attack mode. On the perimeter, he can go downhill with his shot fake and finish on you around the rim. No matter how you defend Murray, he will find ways to score.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Maryland Terrapins can attest to this, as Murray lit up the Terrapins with 30 points, shooting 12 of 14 from the field. Maryland had no answers for the Hawkeyes’ star player. &nbsp;

Murray was hitting floaters, step-backs, and catching lobs on the Terrapins all game long. Heading into the final stretch of his breakout Sophomore year, his production made giant leaps, improving his 3-point percentage from 25% back in December to 44%&nbsp;in February.&nbsp;

Murray's ability to score from anywhere on the floor kept the Hawkeyes' cylinders firing all season long. The team finished fourth in the conference in points per game and limited turnovers. As impressive as Murray is on the offensive end, he can get the job done defensively too.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During the 2021-22 season, Murray logged the Big Ten’s seventh-best defensive rating (96.8), the third-best block percentage (6.4), and the 13th-best steal percentage (2.3), according to Hawk Central. With a 6-foot-11 wingspan, the Kings should anticipate Murray being a solid defender.&nbsp;

Keegan Murray has a knack for the game in terms of getting into his spots, taking high percentage shots, and the ability to defend. Murray has the potential of not only being a starter but also a prominent two-way player for the Kings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Catch Keegan Murray and the Kings on opening night against the Portland Trail Blazers, Oct. 19th, starting at 7 PM PT.&nbsp;