The Sacramento Kings rising Big 3 could take over the NBA
By Logan Struck
The Sacramento Kings are coming off their best season in 17 years, finishing 3rd in the Western Conference with a 48-34 record. The Kings not only brought back all five starters from last year’s team, but they improved the bench unit as they look to contend for a championship.
With off-season moves such as signing EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov, trading for Chris Duarte, and signing Nerlens Noel, the Sacramento Kings are building one of the deepest rosters in the NBA.
Building around the young All-NBA duo De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the Sacramento Kings are looking toward a deep playoff run after a disappointing first-round loss to the Warriors last season.
Alongside De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings have found a gem that is developing into a third star, giving Sacramento a young star trio.
Keegan Murray is a rising star, giving the Kings a newly found Big 3.
Keegan Murray, 22, had an outstanding first year, breaking the rookie three-point record on his way to NBA All-Rookie 1st team. While Murray proved to be an elite three-point shooter, his development in the 2023 California Classic Summer League suggests he could be much more.
Highlighted by a 41-point performance, Keegan Murray showed the world that he is no longer a role player and is ready to take the next step.
A trio of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and a developing Keegan Murray might be ready to take over the NBA. At 25, 27, and 22 years old, respectively, the young trio are all locked inked to Sacramento for the long term.
For years, the elite NBA teams have been built around a star trio (2022-23 Denver Nuggets is the outlier), and the Kings have stumbled upon their very own Big 3. Drafting De’Aaron Fox in 2017 and Keegan Murray in 2022, Sacramento has had wonderful draft success recently after years of draft failures.
How does the Kings’ star trio match up against the rest of the NBA?
The NBA is full of elite talent, and talented players tend to team up with each other. This off-season, we witnessed the Phoenix Suns build a star-studded Big 3 with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. We also saw the Boston Celtics construct a Big 3 of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis.
On top of the star trios built this off-season, the Golden State Warriors retained their Big 3 of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The Milwaukee Bucks kept their trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton.
Most other teams have a star duo, such as the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, which has not been as historically successful as a Big 3.
If Keegan Murray continues to develop at this pace, the Sacramento Kings star trio could be atop the NBA, but the competition is steep.
