Keegan Murray is first ex-Hawkeye to earn NBA All-Rookie Team honors

Sacramento Kings forward from Cedar Rapids is first former Iowa player to be an All-Rookie selection in the 60 years of the award.

Mike Hlas

May. 8, 2023 1:05 pm, Updated: May. 8, 2023 1:59 pm

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) dunks against the Golden State Warriors in an NBA playoff game in San Francisco on April 23. (Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)

Keegan Murray became the first former University of Iowa basketball player to make the NBA’s All-Rookie Team in its 60-year history.

The Sacramento Kings forward from Cedar Rapids was named to the All-Rookie first team Monday along with Orlando Magic forward/NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams, Indiana Pacers forward Bennedict Mathurin and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler.

Murray averaged 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds over 80 games with the Kings. He made an NBA rookie-record 206 3-pointers. In Sacramento’s seven-game playoff series against Golden State, Murray averaged 9.6 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Murray was the fifth player selected in the 2022 NBA draft. His brother, Kris Murray of Iowa, has entered the 2023 draft.

Murray is the first Iowan to be all-rookie since Harrison Barnes of Ames and North Carolina was on the 2013 first-team. Barnes is Murray’s teammate at Sacramento. The only other Iowan to be so honored was Sioux City’s Kirk Hinrich in 2004.

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