With the fourth pick in the NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings selected Iowa’s Keegan Murray. He brings size, rebounding, impressive defensive instincts and outside shooting to a Sacramento team looking to win now.
Keegan Murray, the No. 4 pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, was introduced to the media Saturday at Golden 1 Center and was pictured for the first time with his Kings jersey.
Over the phone on draft night, Murray told the Kings staff he's decided to wear No. 13. But why that number?
“I was [number] three growing up, so I just put the one next to it,” Murray explained. “I was [number] 15 in college. So, there’s a one in 15 and a three in three, so 13.”
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Makes sense.
No. 13 is one of the most popular digits in franchise history, as Murray will become the 20th player to don it. Only six other numbers have been worn more often in Kings annals -- 3, 5, 9, 10, 15 and 20.
Tristan Thompson was the latest Kings player to wear No. 13, doing so for 30 games last season. Other notable players to wear No. 13 include Tyreke Evans and Doug Christie, currently an assistant coach on Mike Brown’s staff.
“Doug Christie, yeah, new coach,” Murray said with a smile. “I’m excited to represent that number.”
NBA
The No. 13 served Evans well. Like Murray, Evans was the No. 4 overall pick by Sacramento in the draft. He went on to log 20.1 points, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game and was named the 2009-10 Rookie of the Year.
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Evans is the only Kings player to win Rookie of Year since the franchise moved to Sacramento in 1985.
Murray will do his best to change that.