“Coach, Mike Brown, challenged Keegan and said, ‘I want you to develop your game this summer, and what we want is for you to play some games in the Summer League, where you can be the first option. I want you to go dunk on someone on the counterattack, to be able to create a dribble exit and to take shots at the end of possession. Like Keegan is Keegan, he walked in, scored over 70 points in two games and said, “Very good coach, I get it.”
The anecdote told by GM Monte McNair about the last tour de force of Keegan Murray sums up the enthusiasm surrounding the Kings winger. After scoring 29 points against the Warriors at the California Classic in the Summer League in Sacramento, Keegan Murray planted 41 points in front of the Heat before retiring from competition, his test for next season passed with flying colors.
A more assertive player who needs to be more consistent
In Sacramento, we expect a lot from the evolution of Keegan Murray this season, since he can be the player who will validate the progress of the team.
“Keegan is a 4th draft pick, he had a great rookie year, we know that his growth is not linear, that it will not always be upwards. Who knows ? He may experience a drop in speed or glitches that he will have to overcome. Like I said, we saw him in the playoffs, he may not have had the best games early in the series, but he got through it in the end.”, continued Monte McNair.
Beyond the impact he could bring with a first NBA season in the legs, he will also be expected in the regularity of his performances. It was one of his weak points last season, and it showed in the playoffs. Overall, the Kings just hope to see him continue his progression.
“All we want is for the arrow to point up and for him to keep working because his potential is limitless and I think we’ve seen that in a lot of different areas, as I mentioned, going all the way back from college to his freshman year as a pro. The more he does on the pitch, the better it will be for us,” concluded McNair.
| Keegan Murray | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2022-23 | BAG | 80 | 30 | 45.3 | 41.1 | 76.5 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 12.2 |
| Total | 80 | 30 | 45.3 | 41.1 | 76.5 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 12.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
