If the Sacramento Kings learned one thing from their first victory of the season, it's that they need to trust Malik Monk more. The former Sixth Man of the Year runner-up had his best game of the season so far, playing a big part in beating the Mavericks. Sacramento needs him to lead the secondary.
So, up until the Mavs game, Monk had been having a really quiet season, which wasn't his fault. He missed the season opener due to injury, then played limited minutes in the next five games. Some of that was likely due to injury management, but there are other issues at play for him.
When Doug Christie took over as head coach, Monk's usage changed dramatically. He went from being their top guy off the bench to not knowing if he was going to play or not. Monk was a healthy scratch on more than one occasion in the 2025-2026 season for no perceivable reason.
In the first five 2026-2027 games Monk was available for, he averaged 11.8 minutes per game, and every single one was a loss. Against the Mavericks, Monk played 30 minutes and finished with 24 points, one rebound, seven assists, and one block. On top of that, his +/- was also +27.
Christie needs to believe in Monk
Without question, Monk is a fan favorite in Sactown. He was a big part of getting the Kings back to the playoffs for the first time in 16 years. That's not why Christie should be putting him to better use. The reason is that Monk is a sparkplug off the bench who makes the team better.
To do that, he needs both regular minutes and consistent usage. The 24 points he scored were obviously important, but his seven assists were huge. That shows he was playing the role of facilitator, getting the rest of the team involved. It's what this team needs from a veteran like him.
What makes Monk so important is that he stabilizes the second unit. The Kings have a lot of talented young players with big potential, but they need someone to help direct all of that properly. Monk is that guy. The concerning part is that it often seems like Christie doesn't see things that way.
The victory over the Mavs is proof that an engaged, active Monk is key to the Kings' success. He doesn't need to play 30+ minutes every single game, but he needs to be on the court more regularly with the ball in his hands. Monk could be a huge part of the rebuild if Christie lets him.
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