The Kings will be without their best defender to start the 2025-26 NBA season as Keegan Murray recovers from a UCL tear in his left thumb.

Murray underwent successful surgery on Monday in New York City, and he will be re-evaluated in 4 to 6 weeks.

But Stanford Medicine’s Amy Ladd, M.D., speaking to NBC Sports California, anticipates Murray could be out for a minimum of three months.

“It probably takes three to six months for the ligament to repair or for the injury to fully heal,” Dr. Ladd said.
“So there will be some protection involved, even if he’s cleared for sport earlier on. I think four weeks is early. Eight weeks-plus is about right without protection.

“But if he does return to play, he’ll have some sort of protective splint, likely. Same thing, it has to feel stable and ready to go.”

Murray sustained the injury during Sacramento’s preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers last Friday. Murray exited the game early and then later was ruled out for the remainder of the contest with a thumb injury.

While the injury is not to his right shooting hand, Dr. Ladd expects it still to affect Murray in ways other than just shooting.

“Basketball is still a bimanual sport,” Dr. Ladd said. “You’re using both hands. So he may preferentially shoot with his right but he supports with his left. He probably occasionally dribbles with his left; he does a lot of things with his left. On defense, your thumb is out there as well.

“So it’s going to affect everything he does.”

Based on Dr. Ladd’s timeline, the earliest Murray might return to action would be about mid to late December.

Murray has been and continues to be an integral piece to Sacramento’s success and what the new regime under Scott Perry and Doug Christie is trying to build and maintain in California’s capital.

For now, they’ll have to play it safe with their former No. 4 overall pick during his contract year. And as Dr. Ladd attested to, it’s better to play it safe than sorry with an injury such as Murray’s.

“Having it repaired is the best assurance that it’s not a chronic injury,” Dr. Ladd said. “That being said, it might be a bit of an Achilles heel. It might be something he needs to protect for some years, even if it’s taping. It’s a really common thing to do, taping just gives it enough support and reliance during activity.”

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