Keegan Murray’s Shooting Struggles Raise Concerns for Sacramento Kings

Keegan Murray, selected by the Sacramento Kings as the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, entered the league with high expectations. A standout during his college career at Iowa, Murray averaged 23.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks during his final season with the Hawkeyes. Now in his third NBA season, he has yet to fulfill the promise he showed in his collegiate career.

Despite his strong start in the NBA, where he made an impact by setting a record for most three-pointers by a rookie—hitting 206 threes at an impressive 41.1%—Murray’s shooting has seen a significant decline. Last season, despite improving defensively, his three-point shooting dropped to 35.8%. This season, the trend continues as Murray is shooting a mere 29.9% from beyond the arc.

This downward trend in shooting efficiency is causing concern for the Kings. Entering his third year, Murray is averaging only 12.8 points per game, with a shooting split of 43.0% from the field, 29.9% from three-point range, and 85.7% from the free-throw line. His recent performances have been lackluster, with single-digit scoring in four of his last seven games, totaling only 12 points over his last two contests.

Expectations were that the addition of DeMar DeRozan during the off-season would open up more scoring opportunities for Murray. However, despite hopes that he would benefit from better shot selections, Murray has struggled with consistency in his new role, often playing as a power forward due to DeRozan’s presence on the court. Although his rebounding statistics have improved, his shooting efficiency has not followed suit.

Experts note that shooting slumps are not uncommon in professional sports and cite other players, such as Kevin Huerter, who have experienced similar phases in their careers. While the season is still young and there remains time for recovery, Murray’s shooting slump remains a hurdle that needs attention to ensure that he reaches his full potential and becomes the elite role player Sacramento envisioned when drafting him.

As the Kings move forward with a competitive aim, Murray’s ability to enhance his shooting would be crucial. For now, the team and its fans await signs of turnaround as early-season struggles continue to challenge the rising star’s potential.