Monk makes strong case to remain in Kings’ starting lineup

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Monk makes strong case to remain in Kings’ starting lineup originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Malik Monk has made great money in the NBA by being an absolute beast off the bench. Now it appears as if last season’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year runner-up is going to get more run with the Kings’ starting squad.

In his first start in a Kings’ uniform and his first in the NBA since the final game of the 2021-22 NBA season when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Monk provided a boost that ignited a much-needed spark for Sacramento on both ends.

While the end result was yet another defeat– the Kings’ sixth in their last seven games – Monk’s night provided a little silver lining in Sacramento’s 127-15 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at Golden 1 Center.

Coach Mike Brown liked what he saw enough to declare that Monk’s start definitely won’t be his last with the Kings but declined to say the move is a permanent one.

“Malik’s going to start. Will there come a day I want to change it? Maybe, I don’t know,” Brown said. “But what we’ve done so far hasn’t resulted in good things in terms of our record. So I felt like I needed to shake it up.”

Kevin Huerter took the first crack at the starting shooting guard spot and had mixed results. Huerter averaged a decent 10.4 points in 15 starts but the Kings were just 7-8 over that span.

Keon Ellis got his shot and made four starts, including Sacramento’s previous three games. The Kings went 2-2 in Ellis’ four starts.

Huerter wasn’t available to play against the Spurs due to a right ankle injury he tweaked during Friday’s loss in Portland. Even if Huerter was healthy, however, Brown likely would have still started Monk.

Monk welcomed the news but would have preferred his day end a little bit more positively.

“Definitely wanted to win but thankful I got my first start here,” said Monk, who signed with the Kings prior to the 2022-23 season after starting 37 games for the Los Angeles Lakers in the previous season. “Took me three years but I’m here now so hopefully it’ll continue. But yeah, bittersweet for…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/monk-makes-strong-case-remain-062523995.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-12-02 06:25:00

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