Former Iowa Basketball Player Gets $140 Million Contract

A former Iowa Hawkeye and pillar of the Sacramento Kings has signed a massive new contract, making him one of the franchise cornerstones for the foreseeable future.

Keegan Murray might be nursing an injured thumb, but that thumb didn't preclude him from signing a new contract that keeps him in Sacramento for the next five years. The news was broken by Shams Charania, the ace NBA insider of ESPN, and has been confirmed by multiple other sources since.

Details of Keegan Murray's Contract:

Keegan Murray agreed to a five-year, $140 million contract extension with the Kings. There are no player options within the deal, and it averages out to approximately $28 million/season. It's a deal that's pretty fair given his style of play, but if Murray reaches his full potential, it will prove to be a bargain for the Kings.

Murray's 2025-26 season debut, however, will be slightly delayed. He tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, which means he'll miss about 10 games, per NBC Sports.

The Kings are a Mess, but Murray is Their Silver Lining:

I'll be the first to admit I have no idea what the hell the Sacramento Kings are doing, but Murray is not one of their problems. It wasn't his decision to trade for Chicago Bulls cast-offs Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, nor was it his idea to bring in ball-dominant former-MVP Russell Westbrook.

During his rookie season in 2022-23, Murray helped lead the Kings to their first playoff appearance since 2006. They wound up winning their division with a 48-34 record, and they became the feel-good story of the NBA, often going viral for their "Light the Beam" celebration. They have yet to make it back to the playoffs.

Keegan Murray's Stats:

Last season, Keegan Murray averaged 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, a slight decline from his sophomore season, although one of his strengths has always been defense. Murray was also learning to play with LaVine and DeRozan, who both take a plethora of shots. One can hope the Kings' messy roster construction doesn't inhibit the development of the former Hawkeye.

Read more about Keegan Murray's contract extension on NBC Sports' website.