4 Kings Players who must step up after Malik Monk injury 

3. Keegan Murray 

For the Kings, losing Malik Monk means losing their third “star”. Monk may not be an All-Star or an All-NBA player, but he is a great playmaker and explosive scorer. 

He has already saved the Kings several times this season with late-game heroics. He is the lone Kings player other than De’Aaron Fox, who has shown the ability to take over games, and the team will miss that sorely. 

Earlier this season, the Kings were looking for a third All-Star but refused to give up Keegan Murray in any trade. The front office and coaching staff obviously believe that they have an All-Star in the making on the team.  

Throughout the season, Murray has shown flashes, improving as a defender, expanding his offensive arsenal, and putting together some big games. Now is his chance to prove that the organization was right not to move him and that he can be the third star they have been looking for.  

If the Kings have any chance of surviving this injury to Monk, Murray will have to be a true two-way presence. Having Keon Ellis in the starting lineup takes some pressure off Murray defensively and ideally, he will spend that energy on the offensive end.

In too many games this season, Murray has been passive offensively, not taking enough shots. That needs to change now.