Kristopher James Murray (born August 19, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten Conference from 2020 to 2023. He was first-team All-Big Ten in his final year with the Hawkeyes. He is the twin brother of basketball player Keegan Murray, who plays for the Sacramento Kings.
.jpg) Murray with Iowa in 2022 | |
| No. 24 – Portland Trail Blazers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 19, 2000 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College | Iowa (2020–2023) |
| NBA draft | 2023: 1st round, 23rd overall pick |
| Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Playing career | 2023–present |
| Career history | |
| 2023–present | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 2023 | →Rip City Remix |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Early life and high school career
editMurray grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and attended Prairie High School, where he played basketball with his twin brother Keegan as a teammate.[1] He was named first team All-Metro and second team All-State after averaging 19.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game.[2] Following graduation, Murray and his brother enrolled at DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida for a postgraduate year.[3] Both brothers committed to playing college basketball for Iowa.[4]
College career
editMurray played in 13 games, all off the bench, and 41 total minutes as a freshman for the Iowa Hawkeyes.[5] As a sophomore, he averaged 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds over 35 games with one start.[6][7] Following the end of the season, Murray entered the 2022 NBA draft after his brother had already done so.[8] He ultimately withdrew his name from the draft shortly after declining an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine.[9][10]
Murray entered his junior season at Iowa on the watchlists for the Karl Malone Award and the John R. Wooden Award.[11][12] He averaged 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2 assists per game and was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference at the end of the season. Murray was also named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press, United States Basketball Writers Association, and the Sporting News.[13] After the season, he entered the 2023 NBA draft, where he was selected 23rd overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.[14]
Professional career
editPortland Trail Blazers (2023–present)
editMurray was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft with the 23rd overall pick[15] and on July 1, 2023, he signed with the Blazers.[16] He scored back-to-back career-highs in points in consecutive games against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 20 and March 22, posting 17 and then 21 points.[17][18]
Career statistics
edit| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Portland | 62 | 29 | 21.7 | .396 | .268 | .661 | 3.6 | 1.3 | .9 | .3 | 6.1 |
| Career | 62 | 29 | 21.7 | .396 | .268 | .661 | 3.6 | 1.3 | .9 | .3 | 6.1 | |
College
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Iowa | 13 | 0 | 3.2 | .231 | .000 | 1.000 | .6 | .1 | .1 | .1 | .6 |
| 2021–22 | Iowa | 35 | 1 | 17.9 | .479 | .387 | .645 | 4.3 | 1.1 | .8 | .9 | 9.7 |
| 2022–23 | Iowa | 29 | 29 | 34.9 | .476 | .335 | .729 | 8.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 20.2 |
| Career | 77 | 30 | 31.8 | .473 | .348 | .699 | 8.0 | 2.2 | 1 | 1 | 12.1 | |
Personal life
editMurray's father, Kenyon, was a 4-year starter for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1992 to 1996, and was high school Mr. Basketball in Michigan in 1992.[19] Kris's twin brother Keegan was a top 5 pick in 2022 draft and currently plays for the Sacramento Kings.[20] Kris was named after the late Chris Street.
References
edit- ^ "Identical twins, identical numbers: Keegan and Kris Murray help Cedar Rapids Prairie to great season". The Gazette. February 17, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ Kakert, Tom (November 18, 2020). "Murray twins ready to live their dream". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Iowa commits Keegan and Kris Murray hit home run at DME Sports Academy". The Gazette. April 1, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Keegan and Kris Murray commit to Iowa basketball, following in their dad's footsteps". The Gazette. October 21, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ Brown, Rick (October 19, 2021). "Kris Murray Looking to Build on Freshman Season". SI.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "It's Kris Murray's time with the Hawkeyes, and he's embracing it". The Gazette. July 19, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ Hornstein, Blake (October 5, 2022). "Kris Murray on filling brother Keegan's shoes: 'I feel no pressure'". OurQuadCities.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Iowa Hawkeyes' Kris Murray declares for NBA draft, but it doesn't mean he's leaving Hawkeyes". The Gazette. April 14, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Keegan Murray comfortable with draft decision". Quad-City Times. May 28, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ Siebring, Owen (May 10, 2022). "Kris Murray declines invitation to NBA Draft Combine". CBS2Iowa.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ Eickholt, David (October 27, 2022). "Iowa Basketball: Kris Murray named to Karl Malone Award watch list". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Wooden Award Watch List Includes Kris Murray". SI.com. November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ Eickholt, David (March 28, 2023). "Iowa Basketball: Kris Murray named consensus all-American". 247Sports.com. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ Vecenie, Sam; Brennan, Eamonn (April 7, 2023). "Iowa's Kris Murray declares for NBA Draft: Where is he projected to be picked?". The Athletic. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ Fentress, Aaron (June 22, 2023). "Trail Blazers select Iowa forward Kris Murray with No. 23 pick in 2023 NBA draft". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ "Trail Blazers Sign Scoot Henderson and Kris Murray". NBA.com. July 1, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "Trail Blazers' Kris Murray: Posts career-high point total". CBSSports.com. March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ "Rally Falls Short In Second Contest Versus Clippers". www.nba.com. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ "Kenyon Murray - Iowa Hawkeyes Player Profile | Basketball - Summary of Iowa football and basketball games". Hawkeye Recap. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Razo, Eduardo (July 20, 2022). "Murray confirms NBA used photo of his brother on draft night". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved November 16, 2022.