It’s Time: Keegan Murray To Start On Thursday vs Memphis
Oct 26, 2022, 2:43 PM | Updated: 2:52 pm
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
To those of you that have been waiting with bated breath for the Sacramento Kings to start Keegan Murray, that day has come.
Kings head coach Mike Brown told the media on Wednesday that the rookie forward will log his first-career NBA start on Thursday night when the Memphis Grizzlies travel to Golden 1 Center.
Murray, the fourth-overall pick from June’s NBA Draft, has averaged a team-high 35.5 minutes per game over two appearances off of the bench this season.
Keegan Murray will start tomorrow, per Mike Brown.
— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) October 26, 2022
“For me, especially with the teams that I’ve been a part of, it’s more about who is in at the end of the game or end of the first half,” Brown said when asked if he expects anything different out of Murray in a starting role. “Those guys are usually the guys who are expected to take you home in that particular game. Whether you start, come in at the three-minute mark, or six-minute mark, it’s all the same. You have to play hard and do your job.”
The reason why Murray starting isn’t a significant development to Brown is that he already has treated Murray as a starter, something that he explained to the media on Wednesday.
After missing the season-opener against Portland due to health and safety protocols, Murray has come off of the bench behind defensive wing KZ Okpala. Although the rookie didn’t start the two games that he has played thus far, he has been the first player off of the bench and finished out each first half that he has played in.
More importantly, as Brown noted, it’s who finishes games–and Keegan Murray has finished each game that he has played in.
With an 0-3 start hanging over their heads, the time for change has come as Murray will begin Thursday’s game alongside De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, and Domantas Sabonis. Fox shared his excitement towards the addition of adding Murray into the lineup following practice on Wednesday, stating that the forward’s presence will help space the floor.
“I think that it helps us tremendously,” Fox said regarding Murray’s starting role. “When he gets on the court, you feel the spacing increase. When you have someone like Draymond [Green] not trying to help off of you, that’s the ultimate respect. I think everybody in the league knows what he can do, and he can help us–not just with shooting, the entire package.”
keeg splashes his first NBA bucket 💦 💪 pic.twitter.com/WK9ZyjfUdm
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) October 23, 2022
Over two appearances, the Iowa product has averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 54% from the field and 43% from beyond the three-point arc. Murray has looked very comfortable on the floor, both on the offensive end and defensive end of the floor as it’s becoming clear that Summer League and preseason were a sign of what is to come for the rookie.
Thursday night will mark the first of many times that Sacramento Kings public address announcer Scott Moak will be able to announce Murray in the starting lineup.
I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that Murray will get quite the reception come Thursday night’s player introductions.
