It’s not easy to be considered other than “the brother of”, when the brother in question delivered a “sophomore” season (2021/22 season) with 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds, before becoming the 4th choice of the 2022 Draft.
Such, however, was the situation of Kris Murray last spring, when the question of whether or not to follow his brother Keegan to the Draft arose. Finally returned to the ranks ofIowa for his “junior” season in order to take an individual step and assert himself as “Kris” and not “Keegan’s brother”, after a “sophomore” exercise in the shadow of the current Kings player, the he Hawkeyes winger does not regret his decision, after a big third year punctuated with 20.2 points (48%), 7.9 rebounds and 2 assists per game.
” [M’affirmer] was the major reason that justified my decision to return. Simply the desire to give myself a (pre)name. I knew that with the departure of Keegan, I was going to have an opportunity to seize. The question was just whether I took the reins or not » he thus explained to the microphone of Andy Katz last week at the Draft Combine in Chicago. ” And the past season has given me a lot of confidence and reinforced my certainty, namely that I am capable of playing at the highest level. »
Like his brother, a sought-after profile in the NBA
Logically very similar physically to his twin brother, Kris Murray is also reminiscent of Keegan in the way he plays. If his ceiling is a bit lower than that of the incumbent strong winger from Sacramento, the future “rookie” is also a 3/4 position whose outside shooting is excellent, and the fundamentals solid.
” Shooting is essential in the NBA today. Just like versatility. In the last two years, I feel like I have improved from this point of view, both in attack and in defense. he adds. ” I can play several roles in attack, defend several positions. And that carries over to the NBA. »
Brought to very quickly become a solid “role-player” in the NBA, therefore, Kris Murray seems clearly promised a selection in the first round, one month from the Draft, with his very high floor level. In our Mock Draft 1.0, we see him in 23rd place, in Portland.
