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|ใ€Š #NBA ๐ŸŽ™๐Ÿ•ถ๐ŸŽ™ใ€‹| The Sacramento Kings Take 2-Way Player Keegan Murray In 2022 NBA Draft

GM "JUMPED" At Chance To Nab Iowa Star






The Sacramento Kings drafted a prolific scorer and willing defender in Keegan Murray. Photo courtesy of HawkeyeSports.com.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Sacramento, Calif. โ€” . The Sacramento Kings picked 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward Keegan Murray out of Iowa with the No. 4 pick overall in the 2022 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft.๐ŸŽ™


For the last six weeks, since the Kings landed the pick in the lottery, the buzz was was almost completely around Purdueโ€™s guard Jaeden Ivey as the coveted player for the Kings.๐ŸŽ™

The teamโ€™s General Manager Monte McNair settled the debate among fans of Sacramento, media, and NBA draft pundits with the decision to go with the native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.๐ŸŽ™

McNair said that he and his staff โ€œunanimouslyโ€ declared Murray as the โ€œbest player availableโ€ at the No. 4 slot.

โ€œWeโ€™re extremely excited to welcome Keegan to the Kings family,โ€ McNair said at Golden 1 Center following the draft. โ€œObviously, Keegan is a well-rounded player, two-way player, (and) one of the most prolific scorers in the country. (He) impacts the game in so many ways. We jumped at the chance at selecting him.โ€


Ivey, who left Purdue after his sophomore season, was chosen No. 5 by the Detroit Pistons, a team he worked with before the draft. The Kings selected G League Igniteโ€™s Jaden Hardy with the 38th pick in the second round but traded the guard to the Dallas Mavericks.๐ŸŽ™


Murray led the Hawkeyes to an NCAA Tournament appearance while earning All-Big Ten first-team honors (2021-22). When the season concluded, Murray ranked fourth in the nation in scoring (23.5) and first in total points (822) and field goals made (307).๐ŸŽ™

#NBA ๐ŸŽ™๐Ÿ•ถ๐ŸŽ™

Keegan Murrayโ€™s Career at Iowa

2021-22 โ€” Played in 35 games, averaging team bests in scoring (23.5), rebounding (8.7), minutes (31.9), field goals made (307) and attempted (554), free throws made (142) and attempted (190), blocks (68) and steals (45).๐ŸŽ™

He broke Iowa's single-season scoring (822), and field goals made (307) and attempted (554). Murrayโ€™s 303 rebounds are 10th most in Iowa's single-season history while his 68 blocks rank eighth-best.๐ŸŽ™

In addition, he knocked down 66 3-point shots, dished out 52 assists, and collected 45 steals. He is only the second player in Division I history to amass more than 800 points, 60 blocks, and 60 3-pointers in a single season (Texasโ€™ Kevin Durant in 2007).๐ŸŽ™


2020-21 โ€” Played in all 31 games, including four starts. As the only bench player, he had 200-plus points, 35-plus blocks, 25-plus steals, and 15-plus 3-pointers. Murrayโ€™s 39 blocks tie for fourth-most by a freshman in program history.๐ŸŽ™

Once again, his defensive skills stood out. As a freshman, Murray led the Hawkeyes in blocks 12 times and steals five times. Before his big leap as a sophomore, he had to play in the shadows of the Iowa head coach Fran McCafferyโ€™s son and Luka Garza, who now plays for the Detroit Pistons.๐ŸŽ™

A 6-8, 215-pound forward, Murray earned consensus All-American first-team honors (2021-22), Karl Malone Power Forward of the year (2021-22), Finalist for the 2021-22 John Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy, and was the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2022). ๐ŸŽ™

Murray is Iowaโ€™s first first-round draft selection since Ricky Davis in 1998. Heโ€™s the programโ€™s first underclassman since Ronnie Lester in 1978 to earn All-Big Ten First Team accolades.๐ŸŽ™


Murray is the son of former Hawkeye Kenyon Murray (1993-96), who ranks third in Iowa career steals with 200. His identical twin brother, Kris, was a sophomore on the 2021-22 roster. ๐ŸŽ™


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By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist


Twitter: Tony Ray Harvey @PublicityAgents

Email: infopublicityagents@gmail.com

T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.

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