Who had the better dunk: Malik Monk or Keegan Murray?

Just eight games into the 2023-24 NBA season, the Sacramento Kings have managed a few highlight dunks. To start, Malik Monk aggressively threw it down over Kris Dunn before screaming and flexing in his face on opening night in Utah.

Then, more recently, Keegan Murray finished over Chet Holmgren in Sacramento’s first In-Season Tournament game. Well, according to Monk, Murray flew past Holmgren rather than dunked on him.

“Not close. Not close to mine. It wasn’t even a body,” he said Sunday afternoon. “He jumped beside Chet. I told him that in the game, too, that’s why he was laughing. If ya’ll have seen that, I said something in his ear, and that’s what I said.”

Murray and De’Aaron Fox have a competition between themselves for the Dunk of the Year this season. After Murray threw it down in the last game, he mentioned their contest to Fox, but the star guard downplayed his moment.

“I asked (Fox) about it, and he said it wasn’t body-to-body,” Murray said postgame. “So, I don’t know if he’s not classifying that as a good dunk or not.”

The Kings have put Chet Holmgren on two posters in the first half 📸

First Domantas Sabonis. Now, this from Keegan Murray.pic.twitter.com/g0EWeLhZ78

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) November 11, 2023

You be the judge. Does Murray’s dunk not being a body-to-body factor disqualify it from competing? I’ve got to say, what Malik Monk did in Utah definitely had plenty of body contact mid-air. After that game, Harrison Barnes called it “probably his best” dunk in a Sacramento uniform.

“That was ridiculous,” he said. “I didn’t think he was going to dunk it.”

De’Aaron Fox with the steal before Malik Monk throws down a POSTER DUNK pic.twitter.com/OjHRO48FEL

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) October 26, 2023

Malik Monk previously joked that he probably wasn’t asked to be part of Fox and Murray’s Dunk of the Year competition because they knew he would win. His supreme confidence has always been apparent, and it’s more than justified regarding considering his dunk reel.

No matter which was “better,” seeing Murray rise and finish with authority at the rim is an encouraging growth from the second-year forward.

“It was impressive because we all know last year he would have tried to lay it up and probably gotten it blocked,” Coach Brown said Sunday.

So… which dunk was better? Should Keegan’s throw-down over (or near) Holmgren qualify for their internal Dunk of the Year competition? Or does Monk’s Utah slam outclass him?

When is the next Sacramento Kings Game?

Sacramento will conclude its homestand on Monday night when they face Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden 1 Center.

After facing Cleveland, the Kings will embark on a ten-day, six-game road trip that will take them away from Northern California until after Thanksgiving.

Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Cavs coverage, beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Sacramento.

Upcoming Schedule

• Monday, November 13th – Sacramento Kings vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:00 PM PST
• Wednesday, November 15th – Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7:00 PM PST
• Friday, November 17th – Sacramento Kings @ San Antonio Spurs** – 4:30 PM PST
• Sunday, November 19th – Sacramento Kings @ Dallas Mavericks – 4:30 PM PST
• Monday, November 20th – Sacramento Kings @ New Orleans Pelicans – 5:00 PM PST
• Wednesday, November 22nd – Sacramento Kings @ New Orleans Pelicans – 5:00 PM PST

** NBA In-Season Tournament Group Play

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