Two months after his historic hot spell (47 points and twelve winning baskets) and three weeks after his last very good match (33 points), Keegan Murray was in pain before the All-Star Game was cut. The figures show it clearly: only 7.8 points on average at 17% success at 3-pts in February…
“Keegan Murray is progressing in many areas”, ensures yet his coach Mike Brown. “I say it all the time: I don't know if a second-year player has as much pressure as him. We are a playoff team. »
Unlike his Draft comrades, Paolo Banchero, Bennedict Mathurin, Jalen Williams, or even Jabari Smith Jr. or Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren, the Kings winger has actually already played a playoff match. And his trainer also highlights his missions.
On the front line in defense
“Nine times out of ten, he defends against the best opposing attacker,” he recalls. “We are asking him to defend at a very high level, to shoot 3-pointers, to rebound, not only defensively but also offensively, from his second season. The pressure is present on every action, knowing that we are a playoff team. »
We expected a lot from him this season and if he has increased his points average, it is mainly because he takes more shots. Because his outside skill dropped, going from 41 to 35% success behind the arc. It is still sometimes irregular.
But behind De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, it is he who can take Sacramento to the next level. “If we look at the players drafted around him, I’m not sure they made the playoffs or suffered the pressure I’m talking about”concludes Mike Brown. “He’s improving everywhere. In my opinion, he will continue to progress, which will benefit the franchise. »
| 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 | 50 | 33 | 45.9 | 35.0 | 80.7 | 1.2 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 14.8 |
| Total | 130 | 31 | 45.6 | 38.8 | 78.7 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 13.2 | |
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.
