Keegan "Keegan Murray" Murray

[pdxKingsFan]

It's super surprising. I was on the Keegan-or-bust train when the Kings pulled the 4th pick in his draft. I saw a lot of potential on the offensive end, and I thought his length would serve him well as an NBA defender, but I didn't imagine he'd look like Kawhi out there in year 2! I'm really impressed with the effort and awareness we're seeing from him on that side of the ball. I don't imagine he'll ever become Kawhi-like on the offensive side of things, but we see occasional flashes of downhill burst that suggest it's in Keegan's bag. We'll see if he develops that tool, too.

Was also definitely Keegan or bust but the notion of him locking down Spida was definitely not on my wish list. People doubted him entering the league last year and then said he was too limited/passive ignoring the role Brown had set for him and then dude just went and worked his butt off in the offseason on everything he didn't show last year and is taking another leap because I think the argument some had was "well he's just older and topping off earlier". Honestly I haven't really tracked last year's class much, I thought Jabari was much improved over the lost player last year and Chet is nice but then we had guys dunking over him which surprised me. And then I hear all the negative about Jaden. But I don't know enough to know if anyone else is taking a similar leap and proving the Kings wrong for going with the "finished product" (and yes I realize 2 of the 3 I named were picked before Keegs).

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

I thought in year 2 that we'd see Keegan start to emphasize more of a back-to-the-basket game, like he had in the college clips we saw prior to the draft.

Lockdown defender was not on my radar as a growth direction. Keegan Murray continues to defy expectations

 

[Rain man]

It's super surprising. I was on the Keegan-or-bust train when the Kings pulled the 4th pick in his draft. I saw a lot of potential on the offensive end, and I thought his length would serve him well as an NBA defender, but I didn't imagine he'd look like Kawhi out there in year 2! I'm really impressed with the effort and awareness we're seeing from him on that side of the ball. I don't imagine he'll ever become Kawhi-like on the offensive side of things, but we see occasional flashes of downhill burst that suggest it's in Keegan's bag. We'll see if he develops that tool, too.

The exciting thing is that he has had one NBA offseason, and he took that opportunity to WORK. I am excited to see what he is able to put together with a few more dedicated offseasons.

 

[The_Jamal]

Awesome awesome breakdown if anyone missed last nights game. Elite level stuff here from Keegs

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724491386991653211

 

[midtowner]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724491386991653211

I think Keegan tells Fox that his missed free throw was a “nice pass”.

 

[PorchSurfin]

I think Keegan tells Fox that his missed free throw was a “nice pass”.

That or "I just bailed you out bro".

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

KF dot com: "Man Keegan Murray is like a legit star now. He's gonna need a nickname."

Keegan: "My name is Keegan Murray"

KF dot com: "Perfect! Keegan Murray is Keegan Murray's new nickname! It's Keegan Murray approved!"

Scott Moak: "AND NOWWWWW... out of Iowa.... starting at Small Forward... KEEGAN KEEEEEEgannn MURRray MURRRRRRRRAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY"

Keegan Murray:

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724567393790501104

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724523975139803442

 

[Padrino]

Awesome awesome breakdown if anyone missed last nights game. Elite level stuff here from Keegs

Man... it's unreal to witness Keegan's defensive instincts/awareness/timing/lateral reaction so far this season. Donovan Mitchell is one of the most potent offensive talents in the NBA. Keegan defended him like he's been scouting and hunting Mitchell for years.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724523975139803442

Poor Buddy. Over that period he was basically shooting .400 from three; he absolutely should have been taking those shots. The problem with Buddy wasn't the threes, it was that he didn't do a ton to help the offense otherwise, and he was awful on defense.

 

[Caccia]

Had he expressive face like Monk's then the league would have noticed him.

The Monk looks like he is meditating.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

If Buddy could lock down Spida I'd let him shoot 12 3's a night.

 

[midtowner]

Poor Buddy. Over that period he was basically shooting .400 from three; he absolutely should have been taking those shots. The problem with Buddy wasn't the threes, it was that he didn't do a ton to help the offense otherwise, and he was awful on defense.

Agree. And in games where Buddy started cold - the Kings would end up down double-digits quickly.

 

[Tetsujin]

Didn’t get it last game but pulled it off tonight

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725041100799492114

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725046164373090774

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725055221741883503

this was the absolutely absurd defensive moment of the game.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725065486860517699

 

[coolhandluke]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725065486860517699

Inject this into my veins.

 

[kingsboi]

Didn’t get it last game but pulled it off tonight

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725041100799492114

he's not sitting in the throne

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725182017581838640

 

[The_Jamal]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725182017581838640

It's absolutely clicked for Keegs that "Oh, all these dudes are way slower than Fox, this is easy" and he's just jailing lead ball handler after lead ball handler. Love it

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725197584866951402

 

[mrlaze]

It's absolutely clicked for Keegs that "Oh, all these dudes are way slower than Fox, this is easy" and he's just jailing lead ball handler after lead ball handler. Love it

This is what I was hoping for when I heard they were hanging out and playing 1 on 1 over the summer.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725197584866951402

Quick glance suggests that's 19/59 overall, which would come up to under 33% shooting. But the number that would be more telling to me would be how many possessions he was responsible for those guys, and how many shots they normally would have taken in that many possessions. Tough number to estimate because of switching, etc., but the point is if you're truly getting dogged by a defender, you're not just going to shoot a lower percentage, but you'll take fewer shots. Forcing the "star" to defer to his teammates is also worth something. Eye test says Keegan has been doing that lately.

 

[MizzouKing]

Remember all the BS flack that Monte took for not drafting Jaden Ivey? Yesterday I heard the guys on NBA Talk Radio arguing over whether he was a bust (with a very lovely mother) or if it was just going to take some time for him to get good...

 

[Sluggah]

Quick glance suggests that's 19/59 overall, which would come up to under 33% shooting. But the number that would be more telling to me would be how many possessions he was responsible for those guys, and how many shots they normally would have taken in that many possessions. Tough number to estimate because of switching, etc., but the point is if you're truly getting dogged by a defender, you're not just going to shoot a lower percentage, but you'll take fewer shots. Forcing the "star" to defer to his teammates is also worth something. Eye test says Keegan has been doing that lately.

Totally. At least perception wise, dudes look to be coughing up the ball constantly after burning 7 seconds trying and failing to get something going against him.

 

[Joshoua]

This is what takes us into the same category as teams like denver/Boston and one more big wing that 3D

 

[TaxMan]

Remember all the BS flack that Monte took for not drafting Jaden Ivey? Yesterday I heard the guys on NBA Talk Radio arguing over whether he was a bust (with a very lovely mother) or if it was just going to take some time for him to get good...

I still think Ivey can be a really good player. History will show that Ivey ended up getting drafted by probably the worst team for his development, while Keegan ended up in the perfect spot.