After letting Alex Caruso slip away a year ago, the Lakers have therefore let go Malik Monk last July. The former Hornets back was one of the rare satisfactions of the season, but management preferred to bet their money on other players. A boon for the Kings who were looking for a scorer off the bench. Better still, Monk had played with De’Aaron Fox in Kentucky, and their complicity could only be a strong point.
Five weeks into the season, all lights are green in Sacramento. The team has settled into the Top 8 of the Western Conference, and has just signed a series of seven straight wins. Unheard of since 2004! In Fox’s wake, Sacramento boasts the most prolific offense in the NBA, and Monk doubled his stats in a month: 8.3 points in October; 16.5 points in November. He has even just signed two matches at 26 and 27 points, and his coach loves his good humor.
“He brings a lot of joy to this team. He is laughing all the time, he makes jokes” says Mike Brown. “He’s someone who allows everyone to stay united and involved, simply because he wants to have fun. Not just for him, but for everyone else. This kind of thing is contagious. Especially when you’re going through tough times. »
A lucky bandage
Example of his good humor and his eccentric character, this bandage that he keeps on his cheekbone. “I have to keep it. Until my skin color returns, I will keep it” he warns. A dressing that has even become a lucky charm since it coincided with the beautiful series of Kings. Initially, he started wearing it last November 7, and more than two weeks later, he keeps it, with variants for colors.
“I hate this bandage” loose Fox. “We don’t win thanks to this bandage. His cut is healed. He is fine. He is perfectly fine, but he will continue to wear it. »
Maybe he’ll stop wearing it if the Kings make it to the playoffs…
| Malik Monk | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | CHA | 63 | 14 | 36.0 | 34.2 | 84.2 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 6.7 |
| 2018-19 | CHA | 73 | 17 | 38.7 | 33.0 | 88.2 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 9.0 |
| 2019-20 | CHA | 55 | 21 | 43.4 | 28.4 | 82.0 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 10.3 |
| 2020-21 | CHA | 42 | 21 | 43.4 | 40.1 | 81.9 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 11.7 |
| 2021-22 | ALL | 76 | 28 | 47.3 | 39.1 | 79.5 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 13.8 |
| 2022-23 | BAG | 17 | 22 | 46.9 | 36.2 | 91.4 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 13.7 |
| Total | 324 | 20 | 42.6 | 35.6 | 83.7 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 10.4 | |
