Kings’ Keegan Murray Faces 4–6 Weeks Out After Thumb Surgery
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Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray will undergo surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, the team announced Monday. The procedure is scheduled after Murray hurt the thumb late in the second quarter of Friday’s preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers. According to the club, the 25-year-old will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.
The timing is notable because Murray is eligible to sign a rookie-scale extension until Oct. 20. While the injury is not expected to alter Sacramento’s long-term plans, it removes Murray’s final on-court opportunity to bolster his case during the Kings’ remaining two preseason contests.
Selected fourth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, the 6-8 forward averaged 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 41.1 percent from three as a rookie, finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. He remained a starter the past two seasons and improved defensively, but his 2024-25 offensive numbers stayed flat at 12.4 points per game on .444/.343/.833 shooting across a career-high 34.3 minutes.
Murray is earning roughly $11.1 million this season. If no extension is reached by next Monday, he would head toward free agency in the summer of 2026, when a qualifying offer of about $14.7 million would make him a restricted free agent.
Head coach Doug Christie has not named a temporary replacement. Guard-forward Nique Clifford opened the second half Friday alongside Dennis Schröder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis. Dario Šarić, Doug McDermott, Malik Monk and Keon Ellis are also candidates for increased minutes until Murray returns.
Source: Hoops Rumors
