We tell you about the tough blow that the Sacramento Kings are going to face

The Sacramento Kings will begin the 2025-26 season without one of their key players. Keegan Murray, the team's starting small forward, will miss the start of the campaign after sustaining a left thumb injury during the preseason loss to the Portland Trail Blazers last Friday. According to the Californian franchise, medical tests confirmed a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament, requiring the player to undergo surgery in the coming days. The team has stated that he will be reevaluated within a period of four to six weeks.

In the best-case scenario, Murray could return for the game on November 24 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which is the team's eighteenth regular-season match. However, the Kings will opt for caution, as the player is a key piece in their scheme, and his complete recovery is the priority.

Murray, 25, averaged 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season, his third in the NBA. Drafted by Sacramento as the 4th pick in the 2022 draft, he has established himself as a reliable player on both ends of the court and has hardly faced physical issues throughout his career, having missed only 13 games due to injury. Additionally, this season marks the final year of his rookie contract, valued at $36.3 million, and he is eligible for an extension before becoming a restricted free agent next summer.

Murray's absence poses a significant setback for the Kings, who are aiming to return to the playoffs after an inconsistent season. The franchise finished with a 40-42 record in the previous season, missing the postseason and leading to the dismissal of coach Mike Brown. Doug Christie, who took over on an interim basis, was later confirmed as the head coach and will be tasked with revitalizing the project.

Early Challenges for the Kings

Without Murray, Christie will need to adjust his rotation at the small forward position and rely on the team's depth to maintain the competitive level during his absence. The goal remains clear: to return to the playoffs for the second time in the last two decades. The progression of Keegan Murray's injury will be crucial for the aspirations of a Kings team that cannot afford another setback in their reconstruction.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Os contamos la dura baja a la que se van a enfrentar los Sacramento Kings