The Sacramento Kings announced that forward Keegan Murray has suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left thumb, an injury sustained during Friday night’s preseason loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Murray is scheduled to undergo surgery and will be reevaluated in four to six weeks, which means he will miss at least the first 10 games of the regular season.
The setback comes at a critical moment in Murray’s young career. Now entering his fourth NBA season, the 24-year-old forward is eligible for a contract extension, with the deadline to finalize a deal set for October 20. If no agreement is reached, he’ll become a restricted free agent next summer.
Durability has been one of Murray’s biggest strengths so far. He has appeared in 233 of 246 possible games over his first three seasons, starting all but two. This thumb injury marks the most significant setback of his professional career.
Murray was expected to be the starting power forward for a Kings team aiming to stay competitive in the Western Conference playoff race. Known for his 3-point shooting (543 career makes) and improving defensive versatility, his absence leaves Sacramento without a key floor spacer and perimeter defender to open the season.
The Kings will now look to fill the void with a mix of veterans and young talent. Dario Šarić, Malik Monk, Keon Ellis, and rookie Nique Clifford are among the potential replacements at forward. Meanwhile, Dennis Schröder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis are expected to anchor the rest of the starting lineup.
