Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray will miss at least four to six weeks after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, the team announced on Saturday.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, an MRI confirmed the injury, which will require surgery. The 25-year-old forward sustained the damage during Sacramento’s preseason loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The timing of the injury is especially difficult for both Murray and the Kings. The fourth-year forward is currently in discussions with the organization on a rookie-scale contract extension ahead of the October 20 deadline. If no agreement is reached by 6 p.m. ET that day, he will enter restricted free agency next summer.
Murray, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has been one of Sacramento’s most consistent two-way contributors since entering the league. Last season, he averaged 15.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 35.8 percent from three-point range.
Through his first two preseason games this fall, Murray had struggled to find rhythm offensively, shooting a combined 6-for-16 from the field and missing all six of his three-point attempts.
The Kings, who finished 40–42 last season, are counting on Murray to take another step forward alongside DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis. His injury now leaves Sacramento thin at the wing position heading into the final stretch of preseason.
