3 Kings who exceeded expectations this season
By Logan Struck
3. Malik Monk
Since entering the league in 2017, Malik Monk has been mostly known as an inefficient shooting guard who occasionally has a crazy highlight play. That narrative changed drastically this year. Whether it was the change in scenery coming to Sacramento or the reunion with his college teammate De’Aaron Fox, Monk showed how valuable he can be to a contending team.
In his sixth season in the league, Monk made the playoffs for the first time and was able to ball out on the big stage. Monk finished the regular season as fifth in the 6th Man of the Year voting but was the most valuable player off the bench throughout the first round of the playoffs. Being the Kings second-leading scorer in the series against the Warriors while having a 32-point game and a 28-point game, both in wins, put him in the spotlight.
Playing only 22 minutes a game throughout the season and not starting a single game, Monk embraced his role as the sixth man and thrived. Monk was practically written off by the majority of NBA media after his time in Charlotte and a forgettable year on the Lakers but quickly revived his career after an electrifying year in Sactown.
Only 25 years old, we could see Monk entering his prime and another year being the go-to guy in the second unit. He has a 6th Man of the Year award coming his way, along with more playoff appearances.
