Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter make Sacramento Kings franchise history

Apr 5, 2023, 12:12 PM | Updated: Apr 7, 2023, 10:19 am

(Rocky Widner/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Once the Sacramento Kings made the move to acquire Domantas Sabonis from the Indiana Pacers, the team had a glaring area of weakness that needed to be addressed during the offseason:

Three-point shooting.

With Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton gone, general manager Monte McNair opted to trade for guard Kevin Huerter and draft forward Keegan Murray with the fourth-overall pick out of Iowa in hopes of surrounding stars Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox with legit perimeter threats.

Mission accomplished.

As a memorable 2022-23 regular season comes to a close, Murray and Huerter have become the first set of teammates in Kings’ franchise history to finish a season with 200 or more made three-point field goals.

The duo is tied at 201 made triples on the season; the seventh-most made three-point field goals during a single season in Sacramento’s franchise history.

Only 5 players in Sacramento Kings' franchise history have made 180+ three-point field goals while shooting 40% or better from deep in a single season.

Two of those players have done so this year 🤯

Buddy Hield
Peja Stojakovic
Mitch Richmond (2x)
Kevin Huerter
Keegan Murray pic.twitter.com/25yd6YDQjL

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) March 29, 2023

The Kings are the third team this season with multiple players that have made 200+ three-point field goals, joining Golden State (Steph Curry, Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson) and Portland (Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons).

McNair’s other notable offseason acquisition of guard Malik Monk has also worked out for the organization, as the Kentucky product has knocked down 141 triples on the season.

The three newest Kings–Murray, Huerter, and Monk–are the Kings’ top three-point shooters this season, with Harrison Barnes (126) and Fox (117) coming in at fourth and fifth on the leaderboard.

Among league leaders, Sacramento ranks fifth in made three-point field goals (1,094) and eighth in three-point field goal percentage (37.2%).

The Kings needed three-point shooting, and they got it in a big way after a big offseason from McNair and the front office.

Next Game

Sacramento will play the second leg of a back-to-back on Wednesday night when they face the reeling Dallas Mavericks. A Kings win over Dallas could push the Mavs further out of the Play-In picture.

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Mavs coverage right here on Sactown Sports 1140 beginning at 4:00 PM PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner before a 5:30 PM PST tip-off from downtown Dallas.