When you grow up with a twin brother who is significantly better than you at the thing you love doing, it is hard to come out of his shadow.
Keegan Murray, the fourth pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and his brother Kris both grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and attended the University of Iowa, playing for the Hawkeyes.
Keegan became a consensus All-American and the best player in the Big Ten, averaging 23.5 points, and 8.7 rebounds in his sophomore season. As for Kris, while he received a decent chunk of playing time, his numbers during his second year were nowhere close to that of his brother’s.
Averaging 17 minutes of action, 9.7 points, 4.3 rounds, and a shade over one assist a game, the elder Murray twin improved his entire stat line from his freshman season.
While those numbers don’t necessarily scream success, when you look at his per-40-minute stats of 21.7 points and 9.5 rebounds, Kris has the potential to be among the Big Ten Player of the Year candidates.
Different Fate For The Murray Brothers
When it came time to declare for the 2022 NBA Draft, both Murray brothers entered their names into the process, with only Keegan being a surefire thing.
As for Kris, posting a stat line that was half of what his brother produced and coming off the bench, it wasn’t in his best interest to keep his name in the draft class, ultimately announcing his withdrawal, which should pan out to be the best move he could make.
After coming off the bench in his first two seasons as a Hawkeye, it is assumed that Kris will fill the void that Keegan left as the Hawkeye’s starting forward and become one of the team’s top scoring options this season.
With nearly two months of NBA workouts in his back pocket, which included an invite to the NBA combine in May, withdrawing from the 2022 Draft may have been Kris’s best move as he gathered feedback from NBA coaches and trainers about his game and areas that he needs to improve his draft stock to possibly becoming a first-round pick rather than a late second or even undrafted talent.
The 2022 NBA Mock Draft sites did not even have Kris listed in their first two rounds, while the 2023 versions have him currently sitting as a late first-round pick.
For @IowaHoops players Keegan and Kris Murray, being a Hawkeye is in their blood. Following in their dad's footsteps, the twin brothers have been supporting each other both on and off the court since they were kids. https://t.co/ZmnabSLjpm pic.twitter.com/gNE0HtBzTk
— University of Iowa (@uiowa) January 14, 2022
Back To The Hawkeyes
“I’d say being able to grow and make the right decisions has always been something that I’ve been able to do in my basketball career so far,” Murray stated in an interview with Sports Illustrated. “And I think I’ve matured, especially on the mental side of basketball. And just kind of learning what it takes to become an NBA player, I think that’s the biggest thing I took from this process.”
Last season, Kris displayed two of the most sought-after traits NBA teams are looking for, the ability to knock down shots from downtown and to be able to guard multiple positions on the defensive end of the floor.
Among those who took more than one hundred three-point shots, Kris was second on the team, hitting 38.7%. Add in his 6’8”, 225-pound measurements, his athletic ability, and his versatility on defense and Kris become a perfect “3 and D” NBA-type player.
https://twitter.com/KrisMurray24/status/1532068787528208385?s=20&t=K63P_oItZK015EUvUg9lvg
Role For The 2022-23 Campaign
As the Hawkeyes leading scorer with the second unit last year, Murray knows that his role for the 2022-23 campaign will likely change, which will certainly play a part in improving his standing in the 2023 NBA draft class.
“I’m definitely going to have a bigger role than I did last year, that’s for certain. I’m excited about the challenge,” Murray stated in an interview with Bleacher Report. “I want teams to have me on the top of their scout and I want to be the focus of their defense. I’m excited about it because my game has evolved in different ways and it will come into this next season. I’m ready for this challenge.”
While the allure of NBA money is certainly enticing, with the inclusion of NIL contracts in the NCAA, Murray noted that he would have the opportunity to make money and also showcase his ability at a high level.
Kris Murray Returning For Junior Season 🙌
STORY: https://t.co/92gIObDSNT pic.twitter.com/deytgCvOTZ
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) June 1, 2022
What The Future Holds?
Last season the Hawkeyes finished with a 26-10 record, winning the Big Ten Conference Tournament before bowing out of March Madness in an upset 67-63 loss to the Richmond Spiders. Although early preseason expectations for the team are not high, considering the loss of talent in the offseason, the Hawkeyes are still considered to be an NCAA Tournament team come March.
“Having the college experience and being able to distance myself from Keegan and kind of take on a leadership role and being on top of scouting reports this year will help me a lot in my future.”
Should Kris successfully lead the Hawkeyes deep into March and create a name for himself, other than “Keegan Murray’s brother”, then his return to the University of Iowa campus will be the best move of his basketball career.
Keegan, Kris Murray Silence Early Critics
Twins Prove Wrong Doubters of Their Place with Iowa Basketballhttps://t.co/gAh0MIINj6 via @byrickbrown
— Hawkeye Nation (@hawkeyenation) May 31, 2022
CREDITS ON FEATURED IMAGE: Andre Tan on Unsplash
