Keegan Murray named January’s Western Conference Rookie of the Month
Feb 2, 2023, 1:00 PM | Updated: 1:24 pm
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray has been named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for the second-straight month.
Murray, the fourth-overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft, continues to impress as the 22-year-old averaged 14.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 51 percent from the field and 49 percent from beyond the three-point line over 15 games during January.
The Iowa product currently leads all rookies in made three-point field goals (119), and is on pace to break Donovan Mitchell’s rookie three-point record (187).
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Keegan Murray earns the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for the 2nd month in a row. pic.twitter.com/Fi51O48hCd— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) February 2, 2023
Murray has been a critical piece of a Kings team that currently sits in third place in the Western Conference standings and first in the Pacific Division with more than half of the regular season in the books.
Thanks to Murray’s marksmanship from deep, stars Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox have a legitimate knockdown threat in the starting lineup that can gel with fellow sharpshooter Kevin Huerter and veteran forward Harrison Barnes.
Among 95 players that have attempted 200+ three-point field goal attempts this season, Murray holds the 11th-best three-point field goal percentage among the group (41%).
Keegan compared to past Kings’ rookies
Keegan Murray is the fourth Kings rookie since the 2000-01 season to win Western Conference Rookie of the Month in back-to-back months, joining Tyreke Evans (2009-10), Isaiah Thomas (2011-12), and Tyrese Haliburton (2020-21).
Over 48 appearances this season, Murray holds averages of 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent from beyond the arc.
The rookie was recently named to the NBA’s Rising Stars Game alongside 27 other standout rookies, sophomores, and G-League All-Stars.
The NBA Rising Stars game will take place on Friday, February 17thΒ at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
