Keegan Murray wins NBA 2K23 Summer League MVP

Keegan Murray is named MVP of the NBA2K23 Summer League (Getty Images)

Keegan Murray has been named the NBA2K23 Summer League MVP, and this should come as no surprise.

The 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward for the Sacramento Kings has been nothing short of phenomenal throughout his short professional career. Following a monster sophomore season at Iowa, where he posted an impressive stat line of 23.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, Murray did not miss a beat. Over his four games played in Las Vegas, the former Hawkeye averaged 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. On top of this, he scored at least 20 points in each of his appearances, all while shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.

While his numbers may not have all been the best in the league, as his scoring numbers were 4.1 points behind Nets guard Cam Thomas (27.4), Murray put on a complete performance in this year’s summer league. What best highlights his performance, though, is when it is compared to that of the three draft picks selected before him: Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jabari Smith. While Murray can boast of his 23.3 average points per game, his draftmates sit below him in the category, with Banchero at 20, Chet at 12, and Jabari at 14.4. He was also able to perform head to head against these talented young players- with Murray’s best performance of the Summer League being his 29 points against Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Though it can be difficult to translate play from the summer league into the NBA’s regular season, this should be incredibly exciting for Kings fans. Murray is the second straight Kings player to win the 2K23 Summer League MVP, behind teammate Davion Mitchell. He will join a young core centered around DeAaron Fox, which only improved over the offseason after acquiring players like Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter.

While we’ll have to wait until the regular season to get more of Murray’s jaw-dropping action, King’s fans can remain optimistic that their time may yet be on the horizon.