Skyrocketing: Malik Monk
Malik Monk is usually the Kings’ energy guy and scoring boost off the bench, but these past few games, with only one exception, he has been so much more. With Fox on the bench, the team was missing its go-to scorer, and Domantas Sabonis, Harrison Barnes, and Keegan Murray failed to step up.
So, Monk took it upon himself to try and take on the De’Aaron Fox role. Still coming off the bench, he delivered the Kings an overtime win against the Lakers, tried his best to keep them in the first game against the Rockets, and had a big stat line of 23 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal against Portland.
Every Kings fan knows how quickly Monk can catch fire as a scorer, but he has also grown into one of the team’s best playmakers. His 10 assists against the Blazers were a team-high as well as a career-high for him.
With Fox injured, his playmaking and ability to get to the rim were incredibly important, even if it didn’t always translate to wins. He largely did what a Sixth Man of the Year candidate is supposed to do: step up when one of the main guys is out.
If he can continue to play like this when Fox returns to the lineup, his stock will only continue to rise, and he could have a legit shot at winning Sixth Man of the Year.