Since joining the Sacramento Kings in the 2022 offseason, Malik Monk has appeared in 159 games for the team. All 159 of them have seen him come off the bench. During that time though, the 26-year-old has become one of the most valuable reserves in the entire NBA.
On Monday night, Monk missed his first game of the season. The Kings were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs by the score of 116-96. That dropped Sacramento’s record to 6-5 on the season. It is now known that Monk will be forced to miss more games for the team early on in the season.
Kings To Be Without Their Top Reserve For At Least 2 Weeks
Monk Sprained His Ankle On Sunday
While the Kings defeated the Phoenix Suns in overtime on Sunday, they lost their top reserve to injury. The 6-foot-3 Monk stepped on Mason Plumlee’s foot in the second quarter and turned his ankle. He did not return to the game, and then missed the team’s following game.
There is now a timetable as to how long Monk could be out for. According to Kendra Andrews of ESPN, Monk sustained a moderate right ankle sprain against Phoenix. The super sub will be re-evaluated in two weeks but will remain sidelined until at least then.
It’s a tough break for Sacramento and for Monk. Being out for at least two weeks would keep Monk out for seven more games. The Kings were also without an injured Monk to end last season. He missed the last nine regular season games and the two Play-In Tournament outings with a sprained MCL.
In his 10 outings thus far in 2024-25, Monk has posted averages of 12.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. The shooting guard has shot 44.2% from the field, 27.9% from three-point range, and 84.6% from the free-throw line. In his absence, starting shooting guard Kevin Huerter and key reserve Keon Ellis may receive more playing time. Doug McDermott is also a candidate to see more minutes for the Kings.
Sixth Man Extraordinaire
The late season injury that occurred to Monk in 2023-24 may have cost him the Sixth Man of the Year award. He instead finished as the runner-up behind the Minnesota Timberwolves Naz Reid. Monk, now in his eighth NBA season, averaged career-highs last season in scoring (15.4) and assists (5.1). He shot 35.0% from beyond the arc, right around his career mark of 35.3%. In his first season with Sacramento (2022-23), Monk finished fifth in Sixth Man of the Year voting when he averaged 13.5 points.
The Charlotte Hornets selected Monk with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He played his first four seasons with Charlotte and then one with the Los Angeles Lakers (2021-22). In his 468 career regular season games (38 starts), Monk has averaged 11.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He has career shooting splits of .433/.353/.844. Monk’s career-high of 45 points came on February 24, 2023 in a double overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Kings begin their NBA Cup schedule on Wednesday at home against the Suns. It is the first outing of a four-game home stand for Sacramento.
