For the past few weeks, Malik Monk has spent most of his time on the bench or playing minimal minutes. But the Sacramento Kings' former Sixth Man candidate has been getting some real court time and delivering. Leaving him on the bench looks like a worse decision every time he plays.
During the Doug Christie era as head coach, Monk's usage has changed dramatically, particularly in 2026. His minutes fluctuate, as does what happens with him on the court. He used to be the top player off the bench, and that's not what's going on these days.
Monk actually sat on the bench for several games in a row, which raised a lot of questions amongst fans and commentators. Christie chalked it up to the logjam at the guard positions. What most people saw was a player getting benched while his team worked on trading him.
Regardless of what the truth is, Monk barely played until injuries caught up with the team. The last couple of games have seen him get more minutes, shake off the bench rust, and slowly get back to form on the floor. It's what Sacramento fans want to see from one of their favorite players.
Malik Monk goes back to work off the bench
In the Kings' victory over the Rockets, Monk played 26-plus minutes and collected 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one block. As an aside, that block was the only one Sacramento had against Houston, which is a whole different issue the coaching staff needs to discuss.
The next night against the Lakers was even better. Scored 26 points on nine of 15 shooting from the field and seven of nine from three. He also picked up one rebound, eight assists, and one steal. And he got all of that done in 31+ minutes on the floor.
Christie seems determined to keep Monk on the bench unless his hand is forced by injuries. And the front office appears to be even more determined to trade him. The problem is that games like these make fans wonder why any of that is happening, considering he has a lot to offer the team.
Yes, the Kings need a rebuild, and some fan favorites like Monk will likely get traded. That's part of being in the NBA. Until that happens, Sacramento should at least keep playing Monk. There's no sense in leaving a good player on the bench because he might get traded.