The NBA has seen several phenomenal shooters in its rich history. Over the years, some of the most skilled shot-makers in basketball graced the prestigious league. However, when it comes to three-point shooting, there have only been a few that have made their mark on the art. While Stephen Curry is often credited for revolutionizing the game with his unparalleled three-point shooting, his Splash Brother, Klay Thompson cannot be overlooked.

Klay Thompson has had a fabled career in the NBA. From unbelievable shooting stretches to legendary Game 6 performances, the “Sea Captain” has done it all. He has also faced several hard-nosed opponents on his way to 4 championships with the Golden State Warriors. However, a 22-year-old sensation in a new rival team seems to have impressed the Splash Brother. The emerging star recently received high praise from one of the greatest shooters of all time, Thompson.

Klay Thompson drops high praise for 22-year-old rival star

The Warriors had a shaky NBA season in 2022-23. While a major controversy set them off on the wrong foot, injuries and inconsistency forced a poor seeding in the Western Conference. However, the Dubs managed to make it to the playoffs where they met the 3rd seed in the first round, the Sacramento Kings.

Thus began an epic showdown of brilliance from both sides, taking the series all the way to Game 7. Although the Warriors emerged victorious, this battle made the two teams instant rivals. During this series, however, the Kings’ then rookie, Keegan Murray made his presence felt in the playoffs despite his inexperience. Thompson took notice of Murray’s incredible talent and had some high praise for the Kings sophomore recently.

“He’s gonna be a good player. He was great in the playoffs too, for a rookie too, that’s a lot to make that impact….I measure a guy like how comfortable we feel leaving him open you know. I don’t feel comfortable leaving Murray open….that’s going in” said the 5-time All-Star.

Murray received some love from the Los Angeles Clippers swingman, Paul George as well. “He’s elite at the three point line. Such an early, and hopefully this is not just one of those one offs…..but he’s got a cannon. He can shoot the s**t out of it.” said PG13.

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The Kings forward received overwhelming praise from two of the game’s most formidable offensive players. Given the stature of the two stars, what has the 22-year-old done to be deemed worthy of these compliments?

Murray has proved to be a bucket

The Sacramento Kings selected Keegan Murray as the 4th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. After trading away two promising young talents, the Kings needed someone to rest their future on. Murray served as the perfect player to take up this paramount role.

Murray landed in a young roster looking to make a playoff push after 16 years. While the NBA world expected another underwhelming effort from the Kings, Murray’s insertion into the roster skyrocketed their performance. Not only did the Kings reach the playoffs but finished as the 3rd seed in the Western Conference.

Murray proved his worth throughout his rookie year, averaging 12.2 PPG with a staggering field-goal percentage of 45.3%. Although he could not maintain his scoring consistency in the playoffs, the 22-year-old contributed heavily on the defensive end. He also had a breakout performance in Game 4 of the first round, scoring an impressive 23 points against the reputed Dubs defence.

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Keegan Murray may have received high praise from Thompson and George but he has lived up to the hype every step of the way. By making the All-Rookie First Team, he further cemented his place as a bright talent in the NBA. Now, with the 2023-24 season coming up, he will only look to elevate his game at the starting small forward position for the Kings.