Keegan Murray Helped Snap the Longest Active Playoff Drought

When former Iowa Hawkeye Keegan Murray was drafted 4th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2022 NBA Draft, I wrote this back in June 2022:

That said, the hype will be as real as the pressure. The Kings currently have the longest active playoff drought amongst the four major American sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL). The Kings have failed to qualify for the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons, the last time being in 2006. The franchise's sole championship was in 1951, when they were the Rochester Royals. The only other NBA team that comes close is the Charlotte Hornets, who haven't made the playoffs in six seasons.

The Kings have had an ignominious stretch of draft busts, poor coaching hires, and rotten luck for years. However, the franchise's fortunes have changed. For the first time since 2006, the Sacramento Kings are headed to the NBA playoffs.

The last time that happened? George W. Bush was president, gas was $2.59/gallon, and the highest grossing film that year was the second Pirates of the Caribbean film.

Keegan Murray is a young stud, who had an outstanding rookie season that might've made him more seriously considered for Rookie of the Year honors if #1 overall pick Paolo Banchero wasn't such a force of nature. Murray broke Donovan Mitchell's record for most three-pointers made by a rookie with 188 on March 29th, 2023.

Murray gelled extremely well with a supporting cast made up of De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Davion Mitchell, and Harrison Barnes. The core led the Kings to a 48-34 record, finishing 3rd place in the Western Conference. They won their first Pacific Division title since 2003, and put an end to an NBA-record 16 season-long playoff drought.

It's a feat worth celebrating for Kings fans and the entire organization alike, but the champagne shouldn't be popped just yet. The Kings are set to face the reigning NBA Champion Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. Even though the Warriors have been historically awful on the road, they're no slouch.

But long-suffering Sacramento fans absolutely deserve this moment of jubilation. Keegan Murray can only go up from here too, as he's exhibited everything you want in a basketball player from an athletic and professional standpoint. If you missed it when it happened, check out Keegan Murray making an Iowa Hawkeye fan's day in Sacramento!