Keegan Murray $140M Kings Contract Reportedly Took 'Many' NBA Execs 'By Surprise'

The Sacramento Kings' five-year, $140 million extension for Keegan Murray "took many rival executives by surprise," NBA insider Marc Stein reported Saturday.

Murray, 25, is older than some of his fellow 2022 draft picks like the Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero (22) or the Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (23). He is also currently sidelined with a torn UCL in his left thumb.

But the main reason executives were surprised, per Stein, is because the Kings committed $28 million in average annual salary to a player who is "not a lead creator."

"Murray, at that price, must establish himself as a consistent offensive weapon in the Kings' frontcourt … something he has not firmly established to this point," Stein wrote.

Murray was named to the All-Rookie team in 2023 after averaging 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in his first NBA season.

His offensive contributions haven't significantly increased since then. Murray averaged 12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 76 starts, while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from deep, during the 2024-25 season.

Murray's defensive role, on the other hand, has grown. The forward led the Kings in total blocks in each of the last three seasons and has regularly been tasked with the team's toughest defensive matchups.

He also regularly leads his team in three-point attempts and is one of three players to total 3,000 points and 500 three-pointers alongside 150 steals and 150 blocks over the last three seasons.

Those achievements alone arguably aren't enough to justify the Kings' decision to guarantee Murray at least 14 percent of the salary cap from 2026 to 2031, as estimated by Spotrac.

The overall opinion on Murray's contract will improve, however, if he takes a step forward as a leader of the Kings' frontcourt during his fourth NBA season.

For now, Murray will concentrate on recovering from his thumb injury in order to rejoin the Kings as soon as possible this fall.