Look. We all know that Summer League is a lower level of competition and that a good performance in the California Classic doesn’t prove anything about the season to come.
But what this article presupposes is…maybe it does?
All I’m saying is that we shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss what Keegan Murray has done the last two days. Haters will tell you that points are less meaningful when Keegan Murray, who was a starter on a 3-seed playoff team that took the defending champs to a Game 7, is scoring over Taylor Funk, who was playing at Utah State last year.
I say those people are burying their head in the sand, afraid to face the new reality of the NBA that Keegan Murray is the next GOAT.
Over two games Keegan Murray averaged 35 points per game on 18.5 field goal attempts. He shot 10 threes per game, averaging 45% from beyond the arc. He got to the free throw line for 13 attempts per game. He averaged 1.5 steals and 2 blocks per game. Regardless of how you feel about the level of Summer League competition, those are superb numbers.
I personally believe those averages are likely to continue in the regular season, but even if you’re a hater who thinks otherwise it’s still the kind of performance that should excite Kings fans. Keegan looked confident and relaxed and in control. I’m eager to see what he does this year.
Really excited for Keegan’s development. Once he gets comfortable with his shot creation, step back jumpers, pull up game and getting to his spots consistently, sooner or later he will be the 2nd option for the Kings which bumps Domas as the 3rd option which is a really good thing for the Kings.
A player of his caliber should dominate against the kind of competition in Summer League. Keegan Murray is doing that, while working on new facets to his game. And even though he’s doing what he ought to be doing, it’s still damned exciting, because you start to see glimpses of how really good he can be.
The strategy is working, and dare I say, perfectly.
“Look Greg, I know I’m going to be the bad guy on this one, but I just want to say the last six days have been the best six days of probably my whole life.”
All time number one movie for me.
Old Keegan?
*BEST HYPERBOLE EVER!
(*where is our friend?)
Howdy! Just poked my head and saw this. Hope everyone is doing well.
But is Keegan better than the legendary Donte Greene?
That is a very high standard to hold Keegan to.
Doratio Kane – A Legend in his own mind! But a happy funny one.
Although Keegan best Doratio by 1 point!
Just not as smiley as Doratio. :I
I just saw a quick headline on one of the hoops site saying we had traded for Chris Duarte. Anybody seen this? Who id we trade?……….if it’s a thing
Trade was reported by Shams several days ago (https://kingsherald.com/articles/report-sacramento-kings-nearing-a-trade-for-chris-duarte/) but we didn’t know what the Kings were sending back or if there was anything else involved. Woj reported today that the Kings are sending two second round picks. I’ll get an article up on in shortly.
Make it shortlier!
I was there last night and still had no idea he dropped 41 until this morning. Effortless.
Granted I was also many sheets to the wind so…
He had a couple of good practices, which was cool for us to see.
He really was just out there doing as he pleased. Impressive af.
Still has some things to clean up, but yes, impressive performance.
I was there yesterday with my two adult kids. Keegan looked like a 7 year starter out there completely in control. I like how they had him guarding smaller faster players, bringing up the ball and initiating the offense. Putting him in new situations. Felt like he was being trained to be a SF. He was attacking the rim and getting a ton of FTs. That will add 5-7 points a game to his totals over last year. Maybe Vezenkov becomes the PF. Potent lineup with Fox, Sabonis, Huerter, Keegan and Vez starting. Second unit of Lyles, Barnes, Davion, Monk, and Q would be pretty potent too. Looking forward to October.
He genuinely has looked like a man amongst boys out there. I love the mindset of him WANTING to be at summer league getting better after him being a starter on a playoff team making big contributions his rookie year. He definitely added some moves to the bag and I expect a big year 2 for him. That step back has some potential and him being aggressive attacking the basket adds another level to the dho with him and Domas. You don’t have to squint very hard to see an easy 20+ppg player
a man amongst boys out
Exactly how I felt watching him play those two games.
Already put my bet in that Murray wins Most Improved Player. $30 to win like $1500. Been thinking of throwing in an extra $20 for s**ts and giggles. I can tell the team’s focus on Murray is for him to be more aggressive. He has also been mentioned as working out with Fox in the summer, as Fox has taken him under his wing. This means he’s studying how to attack the paint from Fox. Green light for Murray to be aggressive means more touches = more point load.
He looks so good, mature, strong, and aggressive. Still no rebounding though. He just doesn’t seem to be in the right place at the right time. If he can grab 5 rebounds a game he’ll be a beast.
To those who were at the game yesterday, did anything weird happen between Queta and Jones? I was watching the post game interview yesterday and Jason Anderson asked Colby about what its like playing with a guy like Neemias. Colby just said along the lines of “I can’t comment on that but thank you for the question”. Seems a little bit weird to me that is how he answered the question.
I did not see anything from either one.
I didn’t see any unusual interactions between the two.
Keegan is Middleton 2.0 with a shot of The Truth and is going to be the 3rd cog to the Kings big three.
To think so many King’s fans were okay with Keegan being included in deals for Siakim and OG on top of multiple firsts. I wouldn’t trade Keegan for either of those guys straight up. Too much potential and still a few more years on a rookie contract, that’s extreme value.
I agree, I wouldn’t trade him for either of those two, by the 24-25 season he might (or I might argue it is likely) be better than either of them. How ridiculous now to think he was the low ceiling pick.
I like your comps, I don’t have to squint too hard to see a bit of Jamaal Wilkes, Kiki Vandeweghe, and Peja in his game too.
I hate to say it, but Matt Barnes is pretty good as color commentator. Reminds me of Jim Jackson on the call, just solid and articulate. And it’s nice listening to Draper instead of Jones and not having to hear cliché after cliché.
Draper, Barnes > Jones, Kayte
I agree, when I first saw Barnes doing commentary, I was surprised at how well he picked it up so quickly. He’s been the subject of much hate over the years, but his television work has been very good.
After these last couple games I kind of wish he took over one of the spots on our current duo. Kayte and Barnes could be an interesting pair, lots of bball knowledge between the two. I like Mark as well but he comes off more as a guy with a bunch of tidbits and facts than a commentator to me personally. I’ve heard enough of “First name De’Aaron, last name HIM” for a lifetime lol
You’re only saying that because you’re hotter than fish grease.
The heavy lean on catchphrases is exhausting.
What do you mean “might”?
As Coach Loucks and Keegan have said – they wanted to put him/Keegan in uncomfortable situations and see how he responds.
This worked – Keegan is looking like a seasoned pro, and as a long time King fan – that level of hopeful success makes me highly uncomfortable.
He certainly was the GOAT for the past two games.
So many marginal end of bench players in the regular season look like world beaters in summer league. I’m not putting Keegan in that category. More like guys like Max Christie, Blake Wesley, Champagnie, and Malaki Branham. Was not at all impressed by Cidy Cissoko. Big body, but not much impact on the game. I think Jaime Jaquez Jr is going to do well in Miami. He just knows how to score.
Badge Legend