Keegan Murray's preseason thumb injury is a setback, both for him and for the Sacramento Kings. But the team can still make the best of a bad situation and shuffle the starting five to get an outstanding rookie some big minutes. That rookie would be Nique Clifford.
Already suffering a rough preseason, Murray's injury only made things worse. He tore his left UCL, undergoing surgery on it. His recovery is expected to take four to six weeks. That assumes everything goes to plan, of course.
If it doesn't, his absence could be significantly longer. The Kings don't want to rush Murray back and hamper his recovery. Keegan may shoot with his right hand, but any hand injury is devastating to a player's game. He needs to be 100% before hitting the court again.
The Nique Clifford show
The Kings drafted Clifford in 2025, taking him 24th in the first round as part of a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Given his performance so far, there is an argument to be made that Nique was the steal of the draft. Well, either him or Maxime Raynaud.
He has only played two preseason games so far, but the numbers speak for themselves. Across those two games, he has 25 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, three steals, and one block. Those aren't Rookie of the Year numbers, but he's setting a solid pace for himself.
What is helping Nique stand out is his confidence. The bright lights of an NBA court can be intimidating to a rookie, but Clifford isn't shrinking from them. In fact, the opposite is happening as he seems to be thriving, which is also true of fellow rookies Raynaud and Dylan Caldwell.
Put Clifford in the game
Murray's injury is an opportunity to put Clifford on the court in a much greater capacity. With a small shuffle of the remaining starters, there is certainly a spot for him to play and thrive. Putting him on the court with Zach LaVine, who Clifford has cited as a mentor, would be incredible for his development.
More than that, this is a chance to see how Clifford handles an increased role. Again, he's only played two preseason games. While his star has shone brightly, more pressure would give the coaches a stronger idea of what he's made of through the rest of the preseason.
It's more likely that the spot will go to Keon Ellis, at least in a starting role. He has more experience than Clifford in the NBA and on the Kings' roster. At the same time, the Kings have to make sure that Clifford gets more minutes in Murray's absence. It's the smart move.