Following Wednesday night's NBA Draft, another former Auburn Tiger was given an opportunity to play at the next level. Power forward KeShawn Murphy is set to play with the Washington Wizards in the NBA Summer League, which Auburn shared on social media channels Thursday morning.
Though he spent only one season with Auburn basketball, KeShawn Murphy left a complicated legacy on the Plains. He transferred to Auburn for his final season, and as injuries took out several of his new teammates, he was essentially the lone big man available on head coach Steven Pearl's roster. He served as the Tigers' starting center for most of the season, and averaged 10.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
It was a tough season for Auburn basketball. After losing to Florida in the previous year's Final Four, Bruce Pearl announced his retirement and handed the reins over to son Steven. Rising sophomore Tahaad Pettiford was the only player from the Final Four squad to return to the Plains, meaning the Tiger's 2025-26 roster was essentially built from the ground up.
Murphy took to social media to campaign for the Auburn to get a spot in the NCAA Tournament after the team's exit from the SEC Tournament.
"We've worked so hard for it," Murphy said, per Auburn Undercover. "Most teams say they've worked hard, (but) we know how much we've put into this. I feel like we deserve it because of who we are and what we do."
Days later, it was confirmed that the Tigers just barely missed a ticket to the big dance as the second team out, and Murphy chose to opt out and leave the program rather than participating in the NIT. Of course, Auburn went on to win five straight games and the program's first NIT Championship, and they did so without their starting center.
"Murph has decided not to play in these games — I'm not sure why," Pearl said after the Tigers' first NIT win, per Auburn Undercover. "But listen: We love Murph, and have a lot of love for everything he's done for us and his commitment to this program. Wish him well. Want him to still finish up academically, but I've got nothing but love for Murph. He came here and wanted to try and make history for Auburn, and he's just ultimately decided not to play. I'm going to just pour into the guys that are here and go hoop."
Murphy will now have to make his case for why he should be selected to play at the next level in the NBA Summer League.
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