2. His defense
Last season, Murray was a typical rookie on defense. Mike Brown put him on low-profile players, and opponents hunted him when they wanted an easy matchup. Over just one summer, his defense completely transformed.
He is moving his feet well, knows how to utilize his size and long arms, and leads with his chest. Playing one-on-one against one of the fastest guards in the league all summer long will teach you that.
This awakening of Murray’s defense has been huge for the Kings. He is still young and still learning a lot of things but they finally have a big defender who can guard one through four.
So far, his top-five matchups this season have been Devin Booker, Brandon Ingram, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, and Anthony Edwards. Coach Brown throws him at any star possible and it will only make him an even better defender down the line.
Over the last five games, Murray collected 7 blocks and 6 steals, battling against some of the best guards in the league. In the last game against Dallas, he held Doncic to only 9-26 shooting from the field, and the All-Star was visibly frustrated with him.
His talent and effort on the defensive end set Murray apart from many other future stars his age. In today’s game, many stars prioritize offense and scoring, so if someone is a true two-way player, it automatically makes them a special player.