Kings' Murray out for start of season with UCL tear

Sacramento Kings guardant Keegan Murray suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament successful his near thumb during a preseason nonaccomplishment successful Portland connected Friday night, the squad announced.

Murray volition acquisition country and beryllium reevaluated successful 4-6 weeks, ruling the Kings' young powerfulness guardant retired for astatine slightest the archetypal 10 games of the regular season.

The wounded comes astatine a pivotal clip successful Murray's career. Entering his 4th season, helium is eligible for a declaration hold successful the adjacent week. The deadline to travel to an statement with the Kings is Oct. 20. If they can't, Murray volition participate restricted escaped bureau adjacent summer.

Murray has been a pillar of durability aboriginal successful his NBA career, appearing successful 233 of a imaginable 246 games his archetypal 3 seasons, starting each but 2 of them. This UCL teardrop is the astir important wounded he's suffered arsenic a pro.

Murray was the projected starting powerfulness guardant for a Kings squad attempting to vie for a playoff spot successful the Western Conference. He has made 543 vocation 3s and developed into a versatile defender connected the wing, meaning the Kings volition beryllium without a important level spacer and their astir trusted stopper successful the opening month.

Veteran guardant Dario Saric, seasoned defender Malik Monk, fourth-year defender Keon Ellis and rookie Nique Clifford are among the candidates who could commencement successful Murray's place. Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis are the 4 different expected starters.