SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 29: Keegan Murray #13 of the Sacramento Kings looks on in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center on October 29, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
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The Sacramento Kings have taken a big blow to their lineup just days away from their season tipping off. Keegan Murray will undergo thumb surgery to repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. Murray will be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks, making him unavailable for the first few weeks of the Kings season.
Sacramento finished with the 22nd ranked defense in the league last season and losing the best defender on their team for multiple weeks will surely be a big blow. Last season, Sacramento’s net rating with Murray off the floor was -1.88, and their offensive rating dropped by three, a sign of Murray’s positive impact during his minutes.
Last season, Murray averaged 12.4 points per game, and 6.7 rebounds per game. With his absence, Sacramento will have to tap into their thin forward depth, with some of their options being Doug McDermott and Dario Saric. Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie is in his first season with the team, and this will present him with a bit of a challenge in the early season.
Murray is expected to return in mid to late November, giving him a chance to still be available for the majority of Sacramento’s games this season. Murray has never played in less than 76 games during his career thus far, so hopefully this injury is a fluke incident for the young forward.