After missing the Kings’ first 15 games of the season due to a thumb issue, Keegan Murray will be available for his season debut on Thursday night against the Grizzlies. Needless to say, at 3-12, Sacramento will welcome back the former fourth-overall pick with open arms.
Murray started all 76 games he appeared in last season, so it stands to reason that the forward will re-enter the Kings’ starting five this evening, likely kicking Precious Achiuwa to the bench. Still, it’s not like Sacramento is short on wings. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan lead the Kings in both minutes per game and points per game, while veterans Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schroder and Malik Monk all soak up secondary usage.
Honestly, that was sort of the theme of Murray’s 2024-25 campaign. The Iowa product seemed ready to take the next leap after averaging 15.2 points per contest in his sophomore season, yet found himself pushed back to the role of fifth option in the team’s starting lineup. Heck, Murray’s 15.0% usage rate ranked 12th on the roster among players who logged at least 150 minutes of action.
Murray will likely be on a minutes restriction as he ramps back into game shape, and I’d expect that he will once again be a tertiary offensive option in the early going — even with Domantas Sabonis (knee) sidelined. However, if the Kings keep losing, this organization will have to find out what it has in Murray, a man they just gifted a $140 million extension.
