If DeMar DeRozan is not worried about the many offensive talents that make up the Kings' squad, he will also have to defend. This will be partly the mission of Keegan Murrayaware of his role in Sacramento. “Defensively, it’s always the same thing: taking care of the best player on the opposing team”, he summarizes.
To do this, he must strengthen his game because he still suffers when he faces physically powerful players, who can push him around or push him.
“He will naturally become physically stronger with age, and will feel things better in the league, with referees and opposing players,” believes his coach Mike Brown. “It must become more powerful without getting bigger. I don't want him to become a physical monster but he has to be able to move, take a shoulder hit from a guy like Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James. He's going in that direction. »
A future like “3-and-D”?
Keegan Murray will begin his third season in the NBA, so he is still learning. “I’m still progressing. My first year, I had difficulty defending out wide, against outsiders”he remembers. “As soon as I had experience, I became much better. I think it's a question of experience. With this, I will become a very good defender. »
As for his performance in attack, the winger certainly had a better past season than his first, in terms of points scored, but losing skill at 3-pts. The Sacramento player must regain precision, while taking a step forward in defense: in short, becoming a true and solid “3-and-D”.
“He has no limits”says Malik Monk. “He can become the player he wants to be. I don't want to put a label on it. I'll let him figure it out on his own. »
| Keegan Murray | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 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 |
| 2023-24 | BAG | 77 | 34 | 45.4 | 35.8 | 83.1 | 1.4 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 15.2 |
| Total | 157 | 32 | 45.4 | 38.4 | 80.5 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 13.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
