Keegan Murray did his homework before becoming the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The 22-year-old Kings rookie revealed Thursday that he studied one of the league's best off-ball shooters, which helped his game grow tremendously over the course of the season.
No, not Steph Curry. The other Splash Bro.
"During pre-draft, just Klay [Thompson] a lot because of the same size and things like that," Murray told reporters after Kings practice. "The guy I was working with knew I could be a really good shooter, so just being able to figure out ways to get open, and I feel like I've done better throughout the year in doing that.
"He's obviously one of the best guys in creating space. They [Klay and Steph] both are. It’s going to be a tall task for us, but I feel like our guys are ready for it."
Murray already has improved in just a short amount of time. He’ll be put to the ultimate test when he faces the guy he studied for inspiration, as the No. 3 seed Kings and No. 6 seed Warriors meet in a first-round playoff series, with Game 1 set for Saturday night at Golden 1 Center.
Murray averaged 12.2 points in his first NBA regular season on 45.3 percent shooting from the field and 41.1 percent shooting from 3-point range, with 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 29.8 minutes per game. He broke the NBA's all-time rookie 3-point record with 206 made triples, surpassing Donovan Mitchell's 187.
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It helps Murray that he has teammates such as De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis -- two unselfish playmakers who can score at any time but would rather make the best play for the team.
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Sacramento's fast-moving, screen-filled offense posted the highest offensive rating in NBA history. It's historic, dangerous and fun to watch. It's also similar to how Golden State plays, which is only one of the many reasons this playoff matchup is so enticing.
But to be the best, you have to beat the best, and Murray should be fully prepared for the challenge.