Keegan Murray has been enjoying the view from the Sacramento Kings' bench since his preseason injury. At some point, he's going to make his return, and Murray will absolutely have to take his game up several notches. He got his bag; now it's time to be that guy.
The Kings selected Murray fourth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. He's now technically in his fourth season with Sacramento, though he hasn't played yet in 2025-2026. During the preseason, he sustained a severe thumb injury that required surgery.
At this point, he's not expected back for two to four more weeks. Murray's next evaluation is coming up in mid-November, though it is quite likely he'll be on the bench until later in the month. There is even a slight potential that it could stretch into early December.
The Kings need Murray
Keegan Murray is a dangerous, versatile shooter who can nail a three-pointer and attack on the closeouts in the paint. More importantly, Murray is also one of the top defenders the Kings have. He can guard a wide variety of positions, bringing the effort and intensity the team needs.
On top of that, he has improved greatly over the years in both rebounding and assists. No one would describe him as elite in either stat category, but he has made significant strides in those parts of his game. He definitely deserves credit for the effort.
It is worth noting that the Kings are having trouble on offense and defense. Additionally, their rebounding and assists are not where they should be. It's almost like missing a key young forward on the roster is causing the Kings' problems. That doesn't mean his return will fix everything.
Murray needs to find another gear
When Murray gets back, he'll need time to shake off the rust and get back into a groove. No one expects him to walk back onto the court for his first regular-season game since last year and drop a triple-double. It would be incredibly cool if he did, but it's just not likely.
But just getting back to where he was simply won't be enough. Murray is going to have to find the next level for his game. He got a huge extension contract for a reason. The Kings expect him to grow this season and become the superstar player he has always had the potential to be.
How he gets there is simple. Murray has the talent and the skill to be great. To find a new gear, he will have to grind it out every day and be unrelenting in his growth. It might not happen right away, but it will happen. Unfortunately, even the next evolution of Keegan Murray won't save the Kings' season.