Kings postseason push buoyed by play of Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis

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It’s a process. Not “The Process,” but a process nonetheless. 

Developing young talent isn’t easy. There are ups and downs and no assurances that a player, even one taken in the top five of the NBA Draft, will ever reach their maximum potential.

The Sacramento Kings had a big moment with two of their young prospects in Tuesday night’s Play-In win over the Golden State Warriors. Keegan Murray, who earned NBA All-Rookie honors last season and has started 155 games in his first two seasons, looked confident from the opening tip while hunting and hitting his shot. 

“We’ve played them ten times in the last, whatever amount of times, and I just knew kinda what my spots are going to be, going into the game,” Murray said. “So, stayed aggressive and just capitalized on that.”

Not to be outdone, Keon Ellis stepped up for the Kings, posting 15 points, four rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks. He put on a defensive clinic against NBA legend Stephen Curry and filled up the stat sheet in the Kings’ victory.

With starting shooting guards Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter out of action, Murray and Ellis are the next men up. Also, with Monk being a leader in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year race, there has been an increased pressure on both Murray and Ellis to take on more of the load. In the most critical game of the season, they both answered the call in their own way. 

Murray’s arrival is more about an increase in offensive opportunities than anything else. Coming out of Iowa he was known as a polished offensive player with a high ceiling. His ascension to primary scoring option has come with some hiccups in year two, but the outline is still there. He is developing as a playmaker and three level scorer, although the process hasn’t been linear.