What McGee suggests Murray should add for the third-year jump

What McGee suggests Murray should add for the third-year jump originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area

Heading into his third NBA season, Kings forward Keegan Murray could benefit from opening up off the court.

Those are the thoughts of Murray’s teammate, veteran center JaVale McGee, who knows the 23-year-old is missing a crucial component in his professional setup despite his status as a talented shooter and proven scorer.

“Comfort,” McGee told Deuce Mason and Morgan Ragan in the “Deuce and Mo” podcast. “I just think he needs to be more comfortable with himself. I know this is going to sound strange, but coming from someone who is in the locker room with him, I think he needs to increase his energy off the court. And I’m a guy who knows what the guys are doing. Keegan does nothing.

“He goes to the gym and goes home and then goes back to the gym for maybe two days like that. He’s very focused on basketball and I think he needs to socialize more.”

Participating in 77 games during the 2023-24 NBA season, Murray averaged 15.2 points, a three-point increase from his rookie campaign. His three-point shooting percentage, however, dropped more than 5%.

McGee, a 16-year NBA veteran himself, knows the Kings forward doesn’t lack commitment to the game, but can add value to his game if he disconnects from the basketball once in a while.

“He’s going to show up on the court, and that’s just my opinion, because he’s so caught up in basketball,” McGee added. “[He’s] I’m not going to any dinners. He is going back to the hotel and ordering food.

“He goes to watch the film, and I’m like, ‘Absolutely, you need to be locked into that aspect, but you need to have some fun in it too because you’re in the NBA and you’re making millions of dollars. “

In a league where expectations are sky-high, the three-time NBA champion hopes Murray can find a balance between his professional and personal life.

“It’s just a balance,” McGee added. “I’m not telling him to go to the club or anything like that. Do you know what I’m saying? I’m not telling him he needs that energy. But I’m saying you’ve been in New York for four days, you need to have dinner on two of those days and enjoy time with your friends.

“I’m not telling you to drink or anything. But you need to enjoy the city and reap the benefits of your sport because you worked hard to get here. Go to Times Square and be a tourist.”

Adding to his case, McGee shared how Keegan doesn’t have a “bark” in him, especially when he decides to have 40-point nights, signaling that he would like to see an emotional reaction from him.

And ultimately, the center shares his recommendations in efforts to get the best out of Murray on and off the court, which should be music to the ears of any dedicated player.

“It makes you better at the things you love and enjoy [them] more,” McGee said. “Right now I feel like I’m so caught up in basketball [that] you don’t do anything else, it gives you a feeling of anxiety. If I make a mistake, it’s over for me. You become that person. Sometimes you need things to relax and forget about basketball, even if it’s for one day a week.

“You can go six days in a row, but on one of those days you need to take time for yourself, go out and try new things.”