Murray, Fox facing off in friendly dunk competition this season

Murray, Fox facing off in friendly dunk competition this season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It seems that Keegan Murray’s offensive explosiveness during the summer will continue to shine during the 2023-24 NBA season.

After an impactful rookie season, Murray is now being challenged by the Kings’ general manager, Monte McNair, to be more aggressive offensively and create his own shot more often.

To add excitement, Murray and Kings All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox have created a friendly competition.

“Just be aggressive. Me and Fox have this little thing of who can get Dunk of the Year this year,” Murray revealed to reporters during a podcast interview with “Deuce and Mo”. “I feel like I have it so far but it’s just being as aggressive as possible toward the basket and if I get fouled, I get fouled. If I get a dunk, I get a dunk. So it’s just the aggression mindset.”

This summer, Murray made the decision to stay in Sacramento to focus on his game and embrace the challenge set by Coach Mike Brown and the team. He and Fox spent countless hours together, pushing each other to improve their skills.

Murray’s first opportunity to shine came during the 2023 summer league, where he impressed on the court at the Golden 1 Center during the California Classic. In less than a minute into the game against the Golden State Warriors, Murray displayed his athleticism by soaring past four defenders for a powerful poster dunk.

Three months later, during the NBA preseason, Murray continued to showcase his energy by dunking over Warriors star Klay Thompson within seconds of the game’s start.

“I feel like physically I’m stronger,” Murray explained when asked about the difference he feels going into this season. “So that plays a part in it. College basketball is different. There aren’t many big guys or shot blockers like in the NBA. I was more comfortable staying on the outside, shooting 3-pointers, so I hesitated to attack the paint. But this year, I feel confident at all three levels.”

Kings fans, get ready to witness Murray’s growth in his second year. And if he throws down another incredible dunk, expect Fox to respond with something equally amazing.