|ใ #NBA ๐๐ถ๐ใ| 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.๐
For the last six weeks, since the Kings landed the pick in the lottery, the buzz was was almost completely around Purdueโs guard Jaeden Ivey as the coveted player for the Kings.๐
The teamโs 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.๐
McNair said that he and his staff โunanimouslyโ declared Murray as the โbest player availableโ at the No. 4 slot.
โWeโre extremely excited to welcome Keegan to the Kings family,โ McNair said at Golden 1 Center following the draft. โObviously, 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 Igniteโs Jaden Hardy with the 38th pick in the second round but traded the guard to the Dallas Mavericks.๐
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).๐
#NBA ๐๐ถ๐
Keegan Murrayโs 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).๐
He broke Iowa's single-season scoring (822), and field goals made (307) and attempted (554). Murrayโs 303 rebounds are 10th most in Iowa's single-season history while his 68 blocks rank eighth-best.๐
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).๐
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. Murrayโs 39 blocks tie for fourth-most by a freshman in program history.๐
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 McCafferyโs son and Luka Garza, who now plays for the Detroit Pistons.๐
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). ๐
Murray is Iowaโs first first-round draft selection since Ricky Davis in 1998. Heโs the programโs first underclassman since Ronnie Lester in 1978 to earn All-Big Ten First Team accolades.๐
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. ๐
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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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