Tag: Malik Monk

Former Wildcat Malik Monk gets a huge payday to stay with the Kings

Malik Monk was rewarded by the Sacramento Kings with a huge new contract.

Former Kentucky basketball star Malik Monk had a terrific season for the Sacramento Kings. His 15.4 points and 5.1 assists per game were both career bests, and he was a candidate for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

After such a terrific year, Monk was rewarded by the Kings. He just signed a new contract which will pay him $78 million over the next four years. This is an increase from around $9 million he made on his previous deal. The new contract includes a player option in the last year.

Related: Five Wildcats in top 100 NBA prospects

Monk starred at Kentucky in the 2016-17 season. He averaged 19.8 points per game and made 40% of his three point attempts. In that one year, he helped lead the Wildcats to the Elite Eight.

In each season as a professional, Monk seems to have gotten better. So expectations are high for him next season. After finishing last season injured, he will be motivated, and now he has $78 million more reasons to be motivated.

Ex-Wildcat Malik Monk to miss significant time with injury

Former Kentucky guard Malik Monk suffered an injury on Friday

Malik Monk was one of the best Kentucky Wildcats players of the John Calipari era. In his only season in Lexington, he averaged 19.8 points per game and helped Kentucky to the Elite Eight. He also won SEC Freshman of the Year.

He has been enjoying a career year this season, averaging a career high 15.4 points per game along with 5.1 assists per game, which is also a career best. He was also a candidate for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award.

On Friday, in a game with the Dallas Mavericks, Monk was injured in a collision with Luka Doncic. He left the game early, and it was discovered that he has a sprained MCL. He’s expected to miss four to six weeks.

The ex-Wildcats star has been one of Sacramento’s key players this season, as they make a push to get into the playoffs. Monk’s absence certainly hurts those chances. He could return this season, if the Kings can keep putting wins together.

Winning streak: Rockets blast Kings as Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr. shine

Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. combined for 47 points and 20 rebounds on elite shooting as Houston bullied its way past Sacramento and into a winning streak.

In Game 3 of the longest homestand of the season at Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets’ 107-89 victory (box score) over the Sacramento Kings (2-3) secured their first winning streak in Saturday’s.

Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. were standouts on offense. Houston’s forward duo combined for 47 points; each shot at least 60% from the field and 50% from 3-point range.

Defensively, Houston (2-3) held the Kings to their lowest point total of the 2023-24 season. Sacramento had exceeded 100 points in each of its first four games, but they managed just 89 in Houston and only 36 in the second half as the Rockets pulled away. Malik Monk led the way with 18 points off the bench.

Houston’s key players included:

  • Dillon Brooks: 26 points, 9 rebounds, plus-25 in 38 minutes; 9-of-14 shooting (64.3%), 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50%), 6-of-6 on free throws
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 21 points, 11 rebounds, plus-4 in 35 minutes; 9-of-15 shooting (60%), 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50%)
  • Alperen Sengun: 15 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, plus-27 in 34 minutes; 7-of-13 shooting (53.8%), 1-of-3 on 3-pointers (33.3%)
  • Fred VanVleet: 21 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, plus-13 in 36 minutes; 7-of-22 shooting (31.8%), 4-of-14 on 3-pointers (28.6%)
  • Jalen Green: 10 points, 5 assists, plus-26 in 36 minutes; 4-of-10 shooting (40%), 0-of-2 on 3-pointers, 2-of-7 on free throws (28.6%)
  • Jae’Sean Tate: 11 points, 4 rebounds, plus-4 in 21 minutes; 4-of-6 shooting (66.7%), 3-of-3 on 3-pointers

Sengun held his own and then some against star Kings center Domantas Sabonis, who finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds. Sacramento was outscored by 26 points in his 31 minutes.

Here are highlights and interviews from Saturday night, along with reaction by media members and fans who follow the Rockets. Next up for Houston, as its seven-game homestand continues, is Monday’s rematch versus Sacramento. Tipoff is 7 p.m. Central.

See every angle of this Malik Monk dunk, which was borderline disrespectful to Kris Dunn

Malik Monk was HYPED after throwing this down on Kris Dunn.

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox forced a steal and found Malik Monk streaking down the court in transition before dropping a dime.

Monk took the pass from Fox and he immediately took flight to throw down an absolutely vicious dunk on Jazz defender Kris Dunn. It was a highlight so nice, you want to see it twice.

Fortunately, the NBA’s official Twitter account posted every single angle of this slam so that you can watch the mesmerizing feat of athleticism from all perspectives.

Each time you watch a replay of this fantastic dunk from Monk, it becomes more and more impressive:

This was a wonderful first game of the season for the Kings, who defeated the Jazz, 130-114. It was exactly the return to form their offense needed after recording the best offensive rating in the league last season.

Meanwhile, although Dunn was on the wrong end of this poster dunk, he was surprisingly one of the best players in the preseason for the Jazz.

[lawrence-related id=2078213,1987416,1376440,2092945]

Let’s remember when Michael Jordan actually smacked Malik Monk and called it a ‘tap of endearment’

Hey, remember that time Michael Jordan smacked one of his players and called it a “tap of endearment”?

We’ve shared a lot of memories of Michael Jordan as the Charlotte Hornets owner with news that the GOAT is selling the team, from his frustrated reactions to the struggling franchise to his good and bad moments.

I’d like to spotlight one of them, because a lot of NBA fans are and frankly, it needs to be talked about again.

The year was 2018. Malik Monk was a member of Jordan’s Hornets, and he ran on to the court from the bench too early to celebrate a Jeremy Lamb game-winner. When he was busted by refs and assessed a technical foul, His Airness smacked the back of Monk’s head.

What’s even more wild: When asked about the smack, Jordan actually called it “a tap of endearment,” which is NOT what I’d call it.

But Monk didn’t think it was a big deal:

Thus might end the weirdest thing about Jordan’s tenure at helm of the Hornets franchise as majority owner.

Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. has no timetable on returning to lineup

“I always tell myself that it sucks, but injuries are a part of the game,” says #Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr., who has now missed 10 straight games with a left foot injury.

Over the last three weeks, the only glimpse the media has had of Houston Rockets point guard Kevin Porter Jr. was in passing.

Either before or after practice or games, the only thing said to him was pleasantries as he made his way to and from the court. Porter has been out of the rotation since Jan. 11 with a left toe contusion he suffered against the Sacramento Kings.

In the first quarter of that game, he collided with teammate Jae’Sean Tate after he was pushed into Porter by Kings guard Malik Monk. Porter wore a boot on the foot until last week and has finally been cleared to do small, non-contact basketball activities.

“It’s just irritated. It’s something to do with my joint, but it’ll be fine,” Porter said after practice on Tuesday. “I have just been rehabbing and treating it well.”

“We’ve just been taking it a day at a time, really. You know, I sometimes shoot in my free time. I dribble the ball all day every day when I’m at home, and I do those little things, but as far as participating, everything like that, we’re taking it a day at a time.”

Before his injury, Porter played very well and had started to find his stride in the Rockets’ offense. In his last 10 games, he averaged 22.7 points, 6.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game.

“I try not to get too low or high with things. When it happened, I just stayed poise, and attacking it how I can and controlling what I can has been keeping me in the right head space.”

Porter suffered a bruised thigh last season that sidelined him for a significant amount of time. This time, his mindset was the same: He did not expect to be out of the lineup for as long as he has.

“No,” said Porter when asked if he thought his injury would sideline him for a substantial amount of time. “For any injury I have suffered, I felt like I could bounce back. My body is usually good at bouncing back. So, definitely, I thought I was going to be back faster.”

As the Rockets prepare to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, they will be without the services of Porter and shooting guard Jalen Green, who suffered a bruised right calf against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the last homestand.

[lawrence-related id=110015,110007]

[mm-video type=video id=01gr4hrygc65p6mfkf2t playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gr4hrygc65p6mfkf2t/01gr4hrygc65p6mfkf2t-511416ce5679a67a943b3a74446322df.jpg]

Jalen Green, Jae’Sean Tate suspended by NBA for leaving Rockets’ bench

Jalen Green and Jae’Sean Tate briefly left the Rockets bench during Friday’s altercation in Sacramento, and that earned both an automatic suspension for the next game.

Second-year Rockets guard Jalen Green and third-year forward Jae’Sean Tate briefly left Houston’s bench during Friday’s altercation in Sacramento, which led to both being suspended for a game.

The NBA league office made the announcement early Sunday, which means that the Rockets will be short-handed later in the day when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena.

While neither Green nor Tate was deemed an instigator, the league’s policy automatically suspends any player who leaves the bench in an altercation. The intent is to reduce the odds of a greater conflict.

The scuffle occurred in Friday’s fourth quarter, and it primarily involved Houston’s Garrison Mathews and Sacramento’s Malik Monk. Rockets forward Tari Eason and Kings big man Chimezie Metu were also ejected, with officials ruling that Eason was an instigator.

Eason, however, was playing in the game at the time, which means he wasn’t subject to the automatic suspension rule. Green and Tate weren’t in the game, which made them subject to the policy.

Eason did receive a $30,000 fine from the NBA for escalating the altercation and making inadvertent contact with a game official as part of the activity in Sacramento. Mathews was fined $35,000 for initiating the altercation and taunting Monk, while Monk was fined $25,000 for continuing the altercation and taunting Mathews.

[lawrence-related id=109178,109112]

[mm-video type=video id=01gphsas3a984q9jb4rm playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gphsas3a984q9jb4rm/01gphsas3a984q9jb4rm-bff0245127e839f8e59d8c3e658575ac.jpg]

[listicle id=109331]

The Lakers mistakenly featured players who aren’t even on their team in their pregame hype video

This is so embarrassing.

The Lakers are one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, and despite all odds, they can’t even get the simple stuff right.

Although the team was starting to play a bit better behind stellar efforts from Anthony Davis lately, Los Angeles blew a 17-point lead against the Pacers on Monday. But the embarrassment started long before Indiana rookie Andrew Nembhard hit a game-winning 3-pointer to crush the dreams of a three-game winning streak.

Before the match even began, the team was clouded by cursed energy. Unfortunately, someone in their game operations department accidentally pressed play on an old pregame hype video.

Fans were easily able to tell that something wasn’t right considering Malik Monk and Kent Bazemore were both featured in the video.

The Lakers did not re-sign Monk this past offseason, and he now plays for the Kings. Bazemore also signed a contract with the Kings but was waived on Oct. 15 before ever playing a game for the franchise this season.

Bazemore last played for the Lakers on April 7 and had not appeared in the starting lineup for Los Angeles since Dec. 17, 2021.

Unfortunately, given everything else that has happened with the Lakers so far this season, such a blunder is hardly even surprising.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f5k5x3v4hcz7e10g image=https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-related id=1376440,1989241,1984411,1984060]

[listicle id=1985416]

Ja Morant blew a potential game-tying free throw after telling Malik Monk ‘don’t miss’ with the game on the line

Ja Morant should’ve taken his own advice against the Kings

Trash talk is great, man. It’s so much fun. It all comes with being part of sports.

But the thing about trash talk is that you have to actually back it up yourself. And, if you don’t? Whew boy. It could lead to some pretty embarrassing moments in front of a lot of people.

Ja Morant knows. He had one of those moments on Tuesday night with the game on the line against the Sacramento Kings.

The Kings were up by 1 point in the game’s waning moments when Malik Monk went to the free-throw line. Morant told him “don’t miss” before he shot the free throws. He didn’t miss a single one.

But the Grizzlies came down on the other end and Ja Morant gets fouled on a 3-point attempt and has a chance to tie the game. What does he do? Exactly what he told Malik Monk not to do.

Sheeeeeesh. That one has to hurt.

You absolutely love to see the competitive spirit from Morant here. But, uh, you’ve got to make your free throws, man. Everyone roasted him for this.

Watch our sneaker unboxing series, Special Delivery

Malik Monk thinks Lakers’ Big 3 can work things out

Former Lakers guard Malik Monk thinks his old teammates Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis can be successful together.

Last summer, the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook, and they thought they had just assembled a Big 3 that would perhaps win the NBA championship.

Of course, that’s not exactly what happened.

Somehow, because of injuries and poor roster construction, championship contention turned into not even reaching the play-in tournament.

As a result, the Lakers have been trying to trade Westbrook for the past several months.

He, LeBron James and Anthony Davis reportedly talked on the phone recently and vowed to work things out this coming season.

Guard Malik Monk, who played with the three stars this past season, feels they can be successful together.

“They grown men, especially when they have convos like that,” Monk said of Westbrook, James and Davis. “I think it’ll work out for them ’cause they all great.”

[pickup_prop id=”25993″]

Monk, who was signed to the veteran minimum salary last offseason, played very well for L.A., averaging 13.8 points in 28.1 minutes a game while shooting 47.3 percent overall and 39.1 percent from 3-point range.

At times, with all the key injuries the team had, he was the most consistent offensive option they had, at least aside from James.

But Monk decided to depart and join the Sacramento Kings this summer, as he agreed to a two-year, $19 million contract with them.

[mm-video type=video id=01g7zhc79kbm2a5h1cmq playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g7zhc79kbm2a5h1cmq/01g7zhc79kbm2a5h1cmq-9e4141279c2bad813e89b4ccf3177ea6.jpg]

[listicle id=84299]