Keegan Murray is already comfortable against NBA competition

Keegan Murray performs at his personal tempo, irrespective of who’s at the court docket.

Whether it’s the Big Ten Conference, Las Vegas Summer League, or a crew with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Keegan Murray is Keegan Murray. That’s been obtrusive even sooner than he shined in his preseason debut witht the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

In his preseason debut against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, Murray used to be his conventional, environment friendly, under-control self. He completed with 16 issues, on 7-of-11 capturing, at the side of 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 lend a hand in simply 20 mins. It’s simply preseason, however not anything Murray did felt out of the unusual or one thing that groups will be capable to remove all the way through the common season.

The series that jumped off the display used to be when Murray broke up a lob strive, handed the ball and noticed up within the nook, burying a 3 whilst drifting to the left. Then, Murray picked off a lazy Laker go and took it the wrong way for a dunk.

We most effective have one preseason sport to head off of, however Murray looks like a participant that is going to be a direct sure for this crew as a rookie, which is one thing that may be stated about so few beginners. Unlike maximum first-year avid gamers, Murray can are compatible into maximum roles the crew is going to invite of him from the bounce. Luckily for Sacramento, that’s all they want him to be for now, and if he’s extra, instantly, then that’s an added bonus.

The second by no means turns out too large for Murray. Even within the few cases the place he struggled all the way through Summer League, Murray by no means regarded rattled. No urgent, no insecurity, simply that very same convenience attending to his spots. Despite no longer being a nuclear athlete, Murray has the uncommon trait of having the ability to craft his solution to his spots at the court docket despite the fact that the fellow guarding him is extra athletic.

Murray’s poise must lend a hand him get via any bumps within the highway which might be conventional of any participant’s rookie season. Of direction, it’s not going to be totally easy crusing, however for Murray, I’m simply no longer anticipating him to stoop all that badly.

Murray is no longer flashy within the conventional sense. He’s no longer going to persistently dunk on guys, he’s no longer a man you give the ball to filter and isolate 15 instances a sport. But what he is, is a participant that may do somewhat of the entirety at the court docket.

Mike Brown opted to start out KZ Okpala on the beginning energy ahead spot on Monday, which shocked many. If Murray continues the preseason enjoying like this, it’ll be tough for him to stay Murray out of that beginning spot come October 19 when the Kings tip off their season against the Portland Trail Blazers.