The Kings know it: even with the best will in the world, keeping Malik Monk this summer will be complicated. The guard is a free agent and hopes to break the bank. The Sacramento franchise won't be able to offer him much more than $17 million per season.
But is the player ready to make sacrifices? Does he want to stay in Sacramento anyway? He was questioned during his last press conference. He who is always full of energy and with a smile on his face appeared much more serious in front of his colleagues.
Malik Monk did his job
One question set the tone, that of his possible last game with the Kings, with the “play-in” defeat against the Pelicans. ” Hard to say. That's probably why I sat longer on the bench. Doug Christie helped me get to the locker room. It was half a fig, half a grape, he comments.
His end of the season was marked by an injury and ending up on the bench, in civilian clothes, is cruel for Malik Monk. Especially since he had just had his best campaign, with 15.4 points and 5.1 assists on average coming off the bench. Finalist for the best sixth man trophy, he can play his best card when negotiating the biggest contract of his career.
“There are a lot of emotions. The city loves me, I’ve said it before, and I love it too,” he continues. “It's important because I can go somewhere else and I'll have a lot of money, but also end up in a worse situation. I have an excellent agent, who will do his job. Mine is finished. I did what had to be done and I think it's going to go well. »
In an ideal world, he would like to stay
In addition to a bigger salary, the former Lakers joker would also like to find a place in the major five. Even if he is ready to keep a role as sixth man, for the good of his new team, this is the scenario that seems most likely at the moment…
“It's crucial because they didn't have to accept me when I got here, except De'Aaron Fox. But they did it. It was great. They welcomed me and now they listen to me,” reports the sixth man. “I have reached a milestone as a leader because Fox is not the most talkative when it comes to telling people things. He plays and dominates on the floor. Everyone has their own way of being a leader and they accepted me as a leader. »
The following ? It's the offseason that will provide the answers, but when asked if, in an ideal world, he would like to stay in Sacramento, Malik Monk slips: ” Absolutely. »
| Malik Monk | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 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 | LAL | 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 | 77 | 22 | 44.8 | 35.9 | 88.9 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 13.5 |
| 2023-24 | BAG | 72 | 26 | 44.3 | 35.0 | 82.9 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 15.4 |
| Total | 458 | 22 | 43.3 | 35.5 | 84.4 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 11.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
