How Murray can take step ahead in third Kings season
How Murray can take step ahead in third Kings season initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
SACRAMENTO – It is among the most iconic moments within the NBA as we speak, and one which will get Keegan Murray hyped each time he hears it inside Golden 1 Heart.
Every time Murray sinks a basket on the Kings’ dwelling court docket, Golden 1 announcer Scott Moak lets free with a loud and prolonged “Keegan,” which shortly is met by an equally loud “Murray” from the Sacramento crowd watching.
“I like it within the area. It’s the good factor ever,” Murray stated Wednesday.
Kings followers can anticipate to listen to much more of that chant throughout the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season.
Coming into his third professional marketing campaign, Murray is being prodded by teammates and Kings coaches to tackle a extra expansive position.
DeMar DeRozan’s arrival seemingly means fewer offensive alternatives for Murray, though the chatter in follow has been quite a bit about Murray getting extra aggressive and vocal when the possibilities do come up.
It’s on protection, nonetheless, the place Murray makes his bread, and that’s not going to vary regardless of who he’s on the court docket with.
Certainly one of Murray’s largest challenges in coaching camp this season is getting extra snug guarding greater, extra bodily gamers.
“It’s a piece in progress factor,” Murray stated. “My rookie 12 months I used to be tough guarding the perimeter. As soon as I bought skilled with that I grew to become quite a bit higher. I really feel prefer it’s an expertise factor. As soon as I get skilled in that, I’m going to be a very good defender.”
Kings coach Mike Brown had excessive reward for Murray and sees the 24-year-old taking one other step ahead in his NBA development.
“He’s going to naturally get stronger simply due to his age and all that,” Brown stated. “He’s going to have a greater really feel for the league as a complete, for the officers as a complete, and for the person gamers as properly.
“He’s bought to maintain getting stronger with out bulking up. I don’t need him to show into an influence man, however he’s bought to have the ability to step-slide, take the hit from the again shoulder by way of a man like Kawhi [Leonard] or a man like LeBron [James] with out folding. Keegan’s heading that course.”
Murray has embraced the whole lot that the Kings have positioned on his shoulders.
Now it’s about taking his sport to the following stage.
“Defensively, it’s going to be the identical. Simply be on the perfect participant on the opposite crew,” Murray stated. “Offensively, be extra constant hitting open photographs, and if I’m in a rhythm, simply maintain that rhythm. Proceed my aggression on each ends of the ground.”
Murray made respectable strides a 12 months in the past when he averaged 15.2 factors, 1.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds – all larger than he did as a rookie regardless of taking part in in three fewer video games.
Malik Monk was requested about Murray however didn’t need to set any kind of limitation on his teammate.
“It’s Keegan. The sky’s the restrict for him,” Monk stated. “He will be whoever he desires to be. I don’t need to put a label on him. I’m going to let him determine it out for himself.”
