For years, the thing that has been holding the Sacramento Kings back more than anything has been their performance defensively. Even with snapping their lengthy playoff drought last season, it was their defense that was ultimately their undoing.
The Kings finished the 2022-23 season with a defensive rating of 116.8, which was 25th in the NBA. Their success was buoyed by an incredible offensive performance, as they were 1st with an offensive rating of 119.8 and finished third in the Western Conference.
This season, Sacramento is playing well again with a record of 27-19. However, their offensive rating has slipped to 14th with a 117.2. Their record has not plummeted because they have started figuring things out on defense.
The Kings are performing near the same level, ranking 17th in defensive rating with a nearly identical 116.5 this season. But, they are getting stops more consistently, a lot of which can be credited to the improvement that Keegan Murray has made.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Murray came into the league known for his shooting and scoring prowess. He certainly didn’t disappoint in those areas as a rookie, shooting 41.1 percent from long range on 6.3 attempts per game. However, he left a lot to be desired defensively.
Murray worked tirelessly over the offseason to improve heading into Year 2 and the work he put in has paid off. He is no longer a liability on defense, in fact, he is now an asset to the team on that side of the ball.
According to NBA University on X, Murray has been an elite isolation defender. Among players who have guarded at least 40 isolations this season, he is giving up only 0.51 points per possession, which is the fewest in the league.
Opponents are shooting 7-of-43 against Murray when isolated against him. He has done an excellent job of getting stronger and improving when it comes to the nuances of playing defense, such as navigating screens and becoming strong at the point of attack.
This is a major development for the Kings, who are lacking go-to defensive options. When the game slows down in the postseason and Sacramento needs a stop, they can now turn to Murray to successfully get one.
That greatly improves their chances of winning because Murray has the size and versatility to defend several positions. Whether it is a wing player or forward that is the No. 1 matchup for the Kings’ opponent, Murray can handle the assignment.
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