Mike Brown speaks to reporters after the Kings’ 122-104 loss to the Celtics on Friday night.
Mike Brown isn't too concerned with Keegan Murray's struggles early on in his 2022-23 rookie NBA season.
Talking with reporters after practice on Sunday, the Kings' coach explained why he isn't worried about the 22-year-old's current stretch of play.
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"What everybody has to remember is that Keegan's a rookie and he's going to go through his ups and downs because he's probably played more games now at this point here than he did his whole last year in college and we're only a fourth of the way through the season," Brown told reporters.
Brown added that Murray is starting on a team that currently is in playoff contention and therefore under a different type of scrutiny compared to players that were drafted before and after him.
That is why Brown calls Murray's situation "unique" compared to other rookies because the 22-year-old actively is helping the Kings maintain their playoff position throughout the rest of the season.
As it stands, the Kings are 10-8 following back-to-back losses to the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics. Sacramento had won seven straight games before those two losses, something that had not been done since 2004.
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The Kings' coach continued to say that Murray will be treated like one of the older players on the squad, as it is imperative for the team to be cohesive if they want to end that 16-year playoff drought.
"I'm going to coach him like he's a vet," Brown said. "If he's not playing well, he's coming out of the game because we have other guys that can step up and possibly help us win because we are a playoff team.
"We're there now and we want to stay there."
Additionally, Brown said that the rookie forward just has to accept the fact that he will have both good and bad games, and to just have fun and "let it rip."
Furthermore, Brown shared that he, along with the rest of the team, is encouraging Murray to keep shooting the ball and that when he drives to the basket, for the rookie to "dunk on somebody."
"Do not give cats respect that they don't deserve in this league," Brown said regarding his message to Murray. "You're too long and too athletic to try to move the ball and double clutch and all that other crap.
"Go dunk on somebody. That's it."
After starting off the first four games of his rookie season on a tear, Murray crashed down to Earth in his next 12 appearances, averaging 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.7 minutes per game.
The 22-year-old also is shooting 32.7 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from the 3-point line during this stretch.
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Despite the rookie's struggles, Brown, the rest of the Kings organization and his teammates have faith that Murray can turn things around in due time.
If Brown isn't too worried about Murray's struggles, that should be a calming message for Kings fans worried about the 22-year-old's inconsistency.
