Keegan Murray is preparing to guard bigger players this season

With Harrison Barnes gone, Keegan Murray is preparing to guard bigger players this upcoming 2024-25 NBA season.

Oct 2, 2024, 3:32 PM

Watch: What does Keegan need to become for you to feel good about his new contract? | 49 seconds

Keegan Murray broke the rookie record for most made threes in his rookie season. Year two came with a significant jump in his perimeter defense on the likes of Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, and Anthony Edwards.

In Harrison Barnes’s absence this season, he will now be tasked with guarding larger, more physical forwards.

Barnes was the one often assigned to LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard. Still, with him moving to San Antonio due to the sign-and-trade that brought DeMar DeRozan to Sacramento, the Kings must look in another direction.

At 6’8 with a 6’11 wingspan, he has the physical tools to match up with those players, but bulking up was also a priority over the offseason.

“He’s got to keep getting stronger without bulking up because I don’t want him to turn into a power guy,” Mike Brown said after their second day of training camp. “You’ve got to be able to take that hit, stay strong, continue to step slide and Keegan is headed in that direction.”

While that will be a new task for Keegan Murray in 24-25, the staff wants him to maintain his flexibility and success of staying in front of quicker players simultaneously.

When the 24-year-old was asked about improving that defensive aspect, he pointed to his gradual growth on the perimeter last season, hoping there will be a similar trajectory with larger matchups.

“It’s a work-in-progress thing,” Murray said. “My rookie year, I was rough guarding the perimeter, and once I got experience, I became a lot better. So, I feel like it’s an experience thing, and once I get experience in that, I’m going to be a really good defender against bigger guys and smaller guys. I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Keegan Murray has shown tremendous growth year in and year out. While guarding stronger players in year three may be a new challenge, his capabilities could be crucial to Sacramento’s defensive success this season.

With Barnes gone, Murray, DeMar DeRozan, and Trey Lyles will have to handle the physicality of James, Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and others.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

The Kings will go through a week of practice and full-contact workouts before opening up the preseason portion of their 2024-25 schedule at home against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, October 9th.

Be sure to catch all of the action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM with Kings vs. Warriors set to tip off at 7:00 PM PDT.