Keegan Murray Bio
Keegan Mitchell Murray (born August 19, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 102 kilograms, the versatile forward played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes before being selected fourth overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2022 NBA draft. He is the twin brother of Kris Murray, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Known for his perimeter shooting, length, and defensive instincts, Murray quickly established himself as one of the league’s most promising young players. After a record-setting rookie season, he signed a five-year, $140 million contract extension with the Kings in October 2025, cementing his place in the franchise’s long-term plans.
Early Life and Background
Keegan Mitchell Murray was born on August 19, 2000, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He grew up in a basketball household, with his father, Kenyon Murray, having played college basketball for the University of Iowa. That family connection to the Hawkeyes program helped shape Keegan’s early appreciation for the game and gave him a clear sense of the work required to compete at a high level.
Murray attended Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, where he developed into a highly regarded prospect. As a senior, he averaged 20.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, earning Metro Player of the Year honors. To gain additional national exposure before college, he spent a postgraduate year at DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he averaged 22.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and was named Most Outstanding Player at the National Prep School Invitational.
Path to Basketball
Arriving at the University of Iowa as a three-star recruit, Murray joined a program on the rise and quickly made an impact. As a freshman, he averaged 7.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors. On January 2, 2021, he recorded a freshman season-high 14 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and three blocks in a 77–75 win over Rutgers, offering an early glimpse of his two-way potential.
His sophomore season transformed him into a national star. On November 16, 2021, Murray posted 27 points, 21 rebounds, and four blocks in an 86–69 win against North Carolina Central, recording the first 20-point, 20-rebound game by an Iowa player since Bruce King in 1977. He later scored 35 points in a December 2021 win over Utah State and tallied a career-high 37 points on February 13, 2022, in a 98–75 win against Nebraska. He helped lead Iowa to the 2022 Big Ten tournament championship, was named Big Ten tournament Most Outstanding Player, earned First Team All-Big Ten recognition, and won the Karl Malone Award as the nation’s top power forward. On March 29, 2022, he declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
Keegan Murray Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Murray was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, launching his professional career in California. He made his Summer League debut on July 2, 2022, scoring 26 points and grabbing eight rebounds in an 86–68 win over the Golden State Warriors. He went on to average 23 points, seven rebounds, and two assists per game across Summer League play, shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range, and was named NBA Summer League MVP and an All-NBA Summer League First Team selection.
He opened his regular season on October 22, 2022, putting up 19 points, five rebounds, and two blocks in a 111–109 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. By January 20, 2023, he was already showing his growing confidence, recording a then career-high 29 points and 14 rebounds in a 118–113 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sacramento Kings Era (2022–Present)
Murray’s rookie season quickly became a historic one. On March 29, 2023, he made his 188th career three-pointer against the Portland Trail Blazers, surpassing Donovan Mitchell’s previous mark of 187 for the most three-pointers made in a season by an NBA rookie. Murray finished his rookie campaign with 206 three-pointers and was named to the 2023 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
He continued to elevate his game in his second NBA season. On December 16, 2023, Murray erupted for a career-high 47 points on 12-of-15 shooting from three-point range, including a league-record 11 consecutive made three-pointers, in a 125–104 win over the Utah Jazz. At 23 years and 119 days old, he also became the youngest player in NBA history to make at least 12 three-pointers in a game, surpassing a record previously held by Kobe Bryant.
Murray’s long-term future with the Kings was secured on October 16, 2025, when he signed a five-year, $140 million contract extension. That commitment came shortly after an October 12, 2025 announcement that he would miss at least four to six weeks following surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament.
Driving Style and Strengths
Murray is widely regarded as one of the most efficient shooters among NBA forwards, with deep range, a quick release, and the patience to relocate along the perimeter. His 6-foot-8 frame, length, and rebounding instincts allow him to play multiple positions, while his growing comfort attacking closeouts adds another layer to his offensive game. Defensively, he uses his size, instincts, and lateral quickness to guard across positions, reinforcing his value as a two-way contributor for the Sacramento Kings.
Notable Events and Milestones
Murray’s most memorable performances include his 47-point explosion against the Utah Jazz in December 2023 and his record-breaking rookie three-point shooting in 2022–23. He is also recognized as a Consensus First Team All-American and Karl Malone Award winner from his 2021–22 Iowa Hawkeyes season, and as the Big Ten tournament Most Outstanding Player from that same championship run.
Keegan Murray Career Wins
Throughout his college and professional career, Keegan Mitchell Murray has built a résumé that includes individual awards, record-breaking performances, and a long-term contract with the Sacramento Kings. His accolades span the Big Ten Conference and the NBA, reflecting steady growth from a three-star recruit into one of the league’s most promising young forwards.
NCAA and NBA Highlights
At the collegiate level, Murray earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, was named Big Ten tournament Most Outstanding Player after leading Iowa to the 2022 Big Ten tournament championship, and won the Karl Malone Award as the nation’s top power forward. He was also a Consensus First Team All-American in 2022, and earlier was recognized on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2021.
NBA Achievements
In the NBA, Murray was named NBA Summer League MVP and to the All-NBA Summer League First Team in 2022. He set the NBA rookie record for three-pointers in a season with 206, was named to the 2023 NBA All-Rookie First Team, and signed a five-year, $140 million contract extension with the Sacramento Kings in October 2025.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA Regular Season | — | — | — |
| NBA Summer League | — | — | — |
Keegan Murray Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Murray’s father, Kenyon Murray, played college basketball for the University of Iowa, providing a direct link to the Hawkeyes program that Keegan would later represent. That family connection to Iowa basketball helped shape his early development and reinforced his understanding of the work required to compete at the highest level.
Personal Life
Keegan Mitchell Murray is the twin brother of Kris Murray, with whom he played throughout both high school and college. The two were teammates at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids and later at the University of Iowa before being drafted in consecutive years. Kris Murray was selected as a late first-round pick in the 2023 NBA draft and currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers.
2025 Season Performance
Murray’s 2025 season began with a setback, as the Sacramento Kings announced on October 12, 2025, that he would miss at least four to six weeks following surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The injury was expected to sideline him for the early portion of the schedule, forcing the Kings to lean on their depth at the forward spots while he recovered.
Despite the injury, Murray’s standing within the organization remained secure. On October 16, 2025, the Kings signed him to a five-year, $140 million contract extension that runs through the 2030–31 NBA season, a clear signal of the franchise’s confidence in his long-term fit alongside the team’s core. Once healthy, Murray is expected to resume his role as a primary perimeter threat and versatile defender for Sacramento.
Looking ahead, Murray’s combination of elite shooting, positional size, and playoff experience positions him as a central figure in the Kings’ plans to remain a competitive contender in the Western Conference. His return from injury, paired with his new contract, sets the stage for what the organization hopes will be a sustained run of high-level play.