Overview:

Chris Murray is a stat stuffing wing with excellent size and length. Murray thrives in an elevated leadership role for Iowa after the departure of his twin brother Keegan who was the fourth pick in the 2022 NBA draft.

NBA Skill: Versatile 3D

Murray has the potential to be a Spot Up Shooting Wing in the NBA.  His three point shooting form, while a bit mechanical and slow, is also just slightly below average at 34% 3FG% on a high volume of 6.8 3FGA.  Murray’s 3 point rate is 43% which means that a higher than average ratio of his shots are three pointers.  With some minor tweaks to his shooting mechanics and footwork Murray has the potential to become a +40% three point shooter.

Offense

Murray has the potential to be a Spot Up Shooting Wing in the NBA.  His three point shooting form, while a bit mechanical and slow, is also just slightly below average at 34% 3FG% on a high volume of 6.8 3FGA.  Murray’s 3 point rate is 43% which means that a higher than average ratio of his shots are three pointers.  With some minor tweaks to his shooting mechanics and footwork Murray has the potential to become a +40% three point shooter.    

Murray shot a solid 47% FGA%.  He showed good leadership in his elevated role after a number of transfers and graduations from Iowa.  Murray does not have a blazing first step but he uses his size well.  He actively pressures the rim from a variety of angles, on second site cuts, offensive rebounds and the occasional “down Broadway dunk”.  This is seen in his 4.1 FTA.  Murray is very close to being a more dynamic scorer and even a knockdown shooter, but he needs more development to reach those heights.  

Murray’s play types are mostly the play types that NBA teams run. 

Assists and decision making

Murray’s role for the Hawkeyes was to score.  He led the team with 15.7 FGA.  He was not asked to make plays for others, posted a slightly below average assists at 2.0 and Assist rate of just 11.7%  But again, this was more because of his role than and unwillingness to pass.  Murray was solid with ball security and decision making.  He rarely over penetrated, thus avoiding offensive fouls and he avoided giving the ball away on errant passes. 

Rebounding and defense

Rebounding is one of Murray’s strongest assets.  He is a consistent and relentless “glass crasher” on the offensive and defensive ends.  Murray’s isolation defense is excellent, allowing only .44 Point Per Possession.   Wings often do not take on rim protection responsibilities, but Murray is a proven rim protector at the wing position.  As with most rookies, defense is the best way to get playing time in an NBA game.  Murray’s off ball positioning is solid as seen by his weak side blocks. 

Projection: Mid first round

Kris Murray is a do-it-all, high production, hybrid wing.  With 47/36/67 splits, Murray is a three level scorer who shoots efficiently from three, mid range, and soft touch finishes at the rim.  A high level versatile defender, Murray is poised to have a breakout season in 2022-23.  Keegan Murray, Kris’ twin brother, was drafted #4 in the 2022 NBA Draft. 2022-23 will be Murray’s sophomore season for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

NBA skill:  Shooting, versatile defense

Note:  Prospects compared to statistical averages of drafted NBA players (2017-2022), by position, from their last college season.

Guards = Below 6’5″

Wings = 6’6″ to 6’9″

Posts = Above 6’10”

Blue      Comparable to average drafted NBA players by position.

Green  Exceeds the average drafted NBA players by position.

Red      Below the average of drafted NBA players by position.

Darker color signifies a greater statistical variance.

Offense:

Keegan Murray is a high producing hybrid wing.  Murray splits are 47/38/64.  Admittedly, Murray’s production may be subject to conjecture due to the small sample size during the 2021-22 season.  Murray started only 1 of 35 games and averaged just 17.9 minutes and took only 7.4 shots.  Playing the same position as his twin brother, a future lottery pick undoubtedly had an impact but now that Keegan Murray has moved on to the NBA, look for Kris to shine.  

Murray’s three point shooting is efficient.  He has good footwork getting into his shot, has a high release, consistent hands and follow through.  A mild concern is the1.2 3PA which is not a large enough sample size to make a definitive conclusion.  The same can be said for Murray’s 64% free throw percentage.  Usually, FTs are the leading indicator for 3 point shooting.  With Murray it’s the opposite, hopefully.  

Murray Shot Mix is NBA friendly as he is Very Good on Jumpers at 1.6 PPP.  Murray is Excellent on Post Ups.  Murray is good at what the NBA runs most.  34% of his Play Types are Spot Ups where converts 1.02 Points Per Play which is Very Good.  Murray is Excellent in transition 1.14 PPP, Very Good.  But what sets him apart from many other wings is his effective movement without the ball.  7% of Murray points are off Cuts.  He is Excellent posting 1.25 PPP on Cuts.  Often young players struggle to get NBA floor time because they are used to being ball dominant.  The ability to move without the ball can be a fast track to playing more minutes early in an NBA career.

Wanna see

Higher shot volume

Increase in free throw shooting percentage

Assists and Decision Making

For 2021-22. Murray’s assists and turnovers are low.  He will certainly have improved numbers in his role during the 2022-23 season.

Wanna see

Increase in assists

Add additional pass types: Touch passes, lobs, off the dribble pass

Rebounding and defense.  

It’s remarkable that Murray was able to average 4.3 RBS in just 17.9 minutes a game.  Look for Murray to increase his rebounding significantly.

Defensively, Murray is a menace.  Long and disruptive, Murray at is great at shooting the passing lanes and getting deflections.  Murray averages .8 steals and and .9 blocks on limited floor time.  Look for Murray to increase his blocks and steals significantly during the 2022-23 season.

Wanna see

Increase in rebounding

Increase in AST

NBA Draft Projection: Late first round