Keegan “KEEGAN MURRAY” Murray

[SacTownKid]

In January, 11 games:

18 PPG
6.1 RPG
1.5 APG
61.2% TS (!!!)
39.1% from 3 (5.8 3PA/game)
19.5% USG

Just a MPJ offensive split, but he's adding excellent, verging on elite, defense with it. Even if he just stopped exactly where he is now, in terms of development, he's a $100 mil player. But I think his growth curve is just beginning.

Defense plus great off ball shooting is what the team needs.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1750769968076173767

beginning to think passing on Ivey for Keegs was the right decision

 

[iowamcnabb]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1750774318647366008

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1750777357080862971

 

[Joshoua]

All NBA defender!!

 

[Telemachus]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1750784564509999166

 

[iowamcnabb]

is Keegan the first back to back winner?

https://twitter.com/statuses/1751479242423230970

 

[ick300]

is Keegan the first back to back winner?

https://twitter.com/statuses/1751479242423230970

wasn’t that Ellis somewhere in the beginning of the season ?
or he’s just had two close to each other

 

[iowamcnabb]

wasn’t that Ellis somewhere in the beginning of the season ?
or he’s just had two close to each other

could be i don’t recall

 

[TaxMan]

Keegan’s evolution as a lock down defender totally changes everything with our future. If we ever find that second wing defender to pair with him, look out. I think our defense then takes another leap. That’s clearly the plan at this point. OG would have been absolutely perfect….

 

[Joshoua]

Keegan’s evolution as a lock down defender totally changes everything with our future. If we ever find that second wing defender to pair with him, look out. I think our defense then takes another leap. That’s clearly the plan at this point. OG would have been absolutely perfect….

Yup that second big defending wing paired with Keegan would be huge

 

[Telemachus]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1751502087794602372

 

[The_Jamal]

Keegan’s evolution as a lock down defender totally changes everything with our future. If we ever find that second wing defender to pair with him, look out. I think our defense then takes another leap. That’s clearly the plan at this point. OG would have been absolutely perfect….

Telling ya, Dorian Finney Smith changes A LOT with this team. If you found a way to get him without touching the starters+Monk... think you have to go do it:

Adds two of the best switchable wing defenders in basketball to a Fox/Huerter/Domas starting core

-Allows us to cycle HB USG off the bench in a much larger role and keep him fresh for the stretch run at like 25-28 MPG

-Monk-HB-Lyles is a filthy playoff bench

 

[Joshoua]

Telling ya, Dorian Finney Smith changes A LOT with this team. If you found a way to get him without touching the starters+Monk... think you have to go do it:

Adds two of the best switchable wing defenders in basketball to a Fox/Huerter/Domas starting core

-Allows us to cycle HB USG off the bench in a much larger role and keep him fresh for the stretch run at like 25-28 MPG

-Monk-HB-Lyles is a filthy playoff bench

Starters are playing really good if we do that trade say (Lyle’s, 2026 1st and a second) I think they bring DFS off the bench.

https://twitter.com/statuses/1751016756926361654

 

[coolhandluke]

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1751503939537961465

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1751492173902618881

 

[gunks]

Just complete madness at this point.

Need to slow down Steph after a 30 point half? Put Keegan on him. Worried about Luka after he scores the 4th most points in a game in NBA history? Not a problem, put Keegan on him.

Madness!

 

[ockingsfan]

Keegan is a future Defensive Player of the Year IMO!

Coach Brown can literally stick Keegan on the opposing team’s best player, playing any position from 1 to 5 (except obviously Jokic or Embiid) and Keegan would be very, very effective. Unbelievable!

 

[ockingsfan]

Keegan has made an amazing transformation when given the challenge by the coaches. Coming out of college, Keegan was looked at as a scorer with questionable defense. Most draft pundits questioned if he had the athleticism and lateral quickness to guard NBA wings.

Well, Keegan doesn't only have the athleticism and lateral quickness to guard NBA wings, he's also locking down top NBA guards. Truly amazing stuff in only his 2nd NBA year!

 

[iowamcnabb]

Coming out of college, Keegan was looked at as a scorer with questionable defense. Most draft pundits questioned if he had the athleticism and lateral quickness to guard NBA wings.

This is partially true. His freshman year he was considered a plus defender. When he took the reins as the number 1 option his sophomore season his defense wasn’t really highlighted. Having said that, you are right that there were lateral quickness questions.

 

[Kingster]

The only thing wrong about Keegan Murray is that we don't have two more of him to put on the floor. Maybe the most un-talked about positive of his game is his willingness to be a great defender in this league. Young players with his offensive skills often don't want or need to apply themselves defensively. They get their points, earn a big contract, and spend their energy on the offensive side of the floor. Not Keegan. It's obvious he's totally bought in to Coach Brown's defensive philosophy. This second year stud is the defensive leader of this team, no question about it. The sky is the limit for someone with his maturity and ability. I couldn't be more happy to have someone of his caliber on the Kings,.

 

[206Fan]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1751502087794602372

Unfortunately I wasn't able to catch the Dallas game. Do you think he played better defense than he did against GS? Was he the primary defender on Luka?

 

[Telemachus]

Unfortunately I wasn't able to catch the Dallas game. Do you think he played better defense than he did against GS? Was he the primary defender on Luka?

His defense was outstanding. Not just against Doncic, but anyone else he ended up guarding. He also made several big team defensive plays.

 

[Kingster]

Unfortunately I wasn't able to catch the Dallas game. Do you think he played better defense than he did against GS? Was he the primary defender on Luka?

Yes, and in one very funny moment in first half I saw Doncic giving Murray a sideways glance after a series of Murray defensive plays on him, seemingly saying to himself, "Who is this guy?"

 

[Telemachus]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1751690302744903927

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Yes, and in one very funny moment in first half I saw Doncic giving Murray a sideways glance after a series of Murray defensive plays on him, seemingly saying to himself, "Who is this guy?"

Actually, if my lip reading of that moment was correct, Luka's comment implied...incest?

 

[Kingster]

Actually, if my lip reading of that moment was correct, Luka's comment implied...incest?

LOL.

 

[TaxMan]

His defense was outstanding. Not just against Doncic, but anyone else he ended up guarding. He also made several big team defensive plays.

It’s weird. He still doesnt come off as having great quickness or athleticism, but moves his hips great, can recover well from behind when he is beat off the dribble, and he has a great knack for putting just enough physicality on his man to bother the shot (along with his length), without drawing fouls. He’s the perfect defender for the current nba defense rules. Never tries to do too much or be too aggressive. Just does enough to constantly be in the way and challenge shots.

 

[Kingster]

It’s weird. He still doesnt come off as having great quickness or athleticism, but moves his hips great, can recover well from behind when he is beat off the dribble, and he has a great knack for putting just enough physicality on his man to bother the shot (along with his length), without drawing fouls. He’s the perfect defender for the current nba defense rules. Never tries to do too much or be too aggressive. Just does enough to constantly be in the way and challenge shots.

It's not mentioned enough - he's a "thick" dude. It is very difficult for other players to push off of him because of his mass and strength. And the nice thing is that he will become even stronger over the next several years because of normal maturation.