Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray will miss the start of the regular season after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. The injury occurred during a preseason loss in Portland on Friday night, the team announced.
Keegan Murray underwent surgery on Monday and will be reevaluated in four to six weeks. The timeline rules him out for at least the first 10 games of the season, a significant setback for a Kings team aiming to compete in the Western Conference.
The injury comes at a critical point in Murray’s career. Entering his fourth season, he is eligible for a contract extension before the Oct. 20 deadline. If no agreement is reached, he will enter restricted free agency next summer. Murray has been one of the most durable players on the roster, appearing in 233 of a possible 246 NBA games across his first three years. This thumb injury marks the most serious setback of his professional career.
Keegan Murray was projected to start at power forward, providing the Sacramento Kings with both perimeter shooting and defensive versatility. He has made 543 career three-pointers and developed into a trusted wing defender, making his absence a major loss for the opening month. Without him, Sacramento will be missing a key floor spacer and their most reliable stopper.
Head coach Mike Brown will now look to other options to fill the void. Veteran forward Dario Saric, guard Malik Monk, fourth-year guard Keon Ellis, and rookie Nique Clifford are among the candidates to step into the starting lineup. The rest of the projected starters include Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis.
The Kings will need to adjust quickly as they begin the season without one of their core players. Murray’s ability to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions has been central to Sacramento’s plans. His absence will test the team’s depth and flexibility in the early weeks.
nba 
nfl 
wnba 
Washington Wizards 
Charlotte Hornets 
Philadelphia 76ers 
Brooklyn Nets 
Toronto Raptors 
Miami Heat 
Chicago Bulls 
Atlanta Hawks 
Orlando Magic 
Detroit Pistons 
Milwaukee Bucks 
Indiana Pacers 
New York Knicks 
Boston Celtics 
Cleveland Cavaliers 
Utah Jazz 
New Orleans Pelicans 
San Antonio Spurs 
Portland Trail Blazers 
Phoenix Suns 
Dallas Mavericks 
Sacramento Kings 
Memphis Grizzlies 
Golden State Warriors 
Minnesota Timberwolves 
LA Clippers 
Denver Nuggets 
Los Angeles Lakers 
Houston Rockets 
Oklahoma City Thunder 
NBA 
