It’s been quite the season for Kings rookie Keegan Murray.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft was twice named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month in January and February. He shattered the all-time NBA rookie 3-point record in March. And in the Kings’ 121-103 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night at Smoothie King Center, Murray became the first rookie in NBA history to knock down at least 200 3-pointers.
Murray drained seven 3-pointers on 10 attempts against the Pelicans, one short of his career high set in February. That gap on the all-time rookie 3-pointers leaderboard between Murray (201) and Donovan Mitchell (187) continues to grow.
“It’s cool. It’s a dream come true,” Murray said of owning the all-time rookie trey record to NBC Sports California’s Kyle Draper and Matt Barnes on “Kings Postgame Live” after the win. “It’s something I won’t take for granted in the future. I’m just honored. It exemplifies the teammates I have and the hard work I put in.”
Murray drilled two 3-pointers in the second quarter and five in the third. All seven were catch-and-shoot opportunities, and four were set up by Domantas Sabonis, who recorded his 13th triple-double of the season.
“[Murray] has a chance to be special, especially with the way he shoots the ball with his size,” Kings coach Mike Brown said after the win. “And now with his ability to move without it, the sky is the limit.
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“We’re extremely happy with his play. When he gets going, we’ll call his number. We called his number a handful of times tonight, and he delivered.”
The rookie fittingly sunk his 200th 3-pointer of the season off a pass from teammate Kevin Huerter, who also owns 201 treys to his name this season. Huerter and Murray are the first pair of Kings teammates in franchise history to nail at least 200 3-pointers in the same season.
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“Being around Kevin has helped [Murray] grow a lot because of Kevin’s ability to create separation,” Brown said after the win. “… The gravity of the defense draws towards [Huerter] even when he doesn’t have the ball.
“Keegan being able to play with him and see that, with the way that he shoots the ball, has helped him grow probably quicker than he would’ve grown if Kevin wasn’t here.”
Nine months after Murray became the Kings’ choice early in the 2022 draft, it’s clear president of basketball operations Monte McNair made the right choice. The perfect choice -- both for the team’s roster construction and for the city of Sacramento.
“I’m grateful to be in Sacramento, to be a King,” Murray told NBC Sports California. “I’m just excited for my future here and for the postseason.”