Kings’ Keegan Murray Out for Two Weeks with Ankle Injury, Season in Jeopardy

Keegan Murray’s season has taken another hit, potentially marking an early conclusion to his challenging 2025-26 campaign with the Sacramento Kings. The team announced on Friday that Murray will be sidelined for at least two weeks due to a “mild” ankle sprain, as confirmed by an MRI. With just 21 games left in the regular season and the Kings holding the NBA’s worst record at 14-47, speculation arises about whether the team will opt to shut him down for the remainder of the year.

At 25 years old, Murray has faced numerous obstacles this season, participating in only 23 games. His struggles have included calf and back injuries, a torn UCL in his left thumb that kept him out for 15 games, and a previous left ankle sprain. This latest setback came just after he returned to the court last week, following a 20-game absence.

The fourth-year forward’s most recent injury occurred during Wednesday’s game against the Houston Rockets. After attempting to contest a shot from Clint Capela, Murray landed awkwardly on his left leg, forcing him to exit after just nine minutes of play.

Murray was one of four key players absent during Thursday’s 130-121 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Alongside him, Zach LaVine (torn tendon in his finger), Domantas Sabonis (torn meniscus in his knee), and De’Andre Hunter (detached retina) have all undergone season-ending surgeries. Russell Westbrook is currently day-to-day with a right thigh contusion, while Malik Monk has been managing a sore right ankle, although he played against Dallas.

In his limited appearances this season, Murray averaged 14 points per game, which is the second-highest of his career, alongside 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists. However, his three-point shooting has dipped to 27%, the lowest mark of his four seasons.

Despite winning two of their last three games, the Kings had previously endured a franchise-record 16-game losing streak, leaving them in a tough position as they look ahead. With the worst record in the league, they hold a 14% chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery, joining the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers in that regard.

Murray, who signed a five-year, $140 million contract extension in October that keeps him under contract through the 2030-31 season, is expected to be a cornerstone in the Kings’ future rebuild, particularly as they look to add a promising prospect in the upcoming draft.

In an ironic twist, Murray’s injury news broke just a day after his rookie record for three-pointers in a season was eclipsed by Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.