Malik Monk

Lore & Background

Monk attended East Poinsett County High School in Lepanto, Arkansas for his freshman year. As a freshman, he averaged 22.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while leading them to a 25–8 overall record and an appearance in the Class 2A state championship game. After his freshman season, Monk transferred to Bentonville High School in Bentonville, Arkansas. In his junior year, he averaged 26.9 points per game. In the spring and summer of 2015, Monk competed for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team, Arkansas Wings Elite, in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) where he averaged 19.7 points per game. He then competed on the 2015 Nike Global Challenge for the East team, where he averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in addition to earning tournament MVP honors. On November 18, 2015, Monk committed to Kentucky, choosing them over Arkansas. As a senior, he averaged 28.6 points per game, 4.4 assists per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. In January 2016, Monk played in the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic where he earned Co-MVP honors alongside former Kentucky teammate and NBA player De'Aaron Fox. Monk was a consensus five-star prospect and considered as one of the best players in the 2016 class by the four main recruiting services: Rivals, ESPN, Scout and 247Sports. Monk was ranked as the No.9 overall recruit and No.1 shooting guard in the 2016 high school class.

Reader's Guide

Monk played college basketball for the University of Kentucky. He set a University of Kentucky freshman scoring record with 47 points in a win over North Carolina on December 17, 2016. He was named SEC Player and Freshman of the Year, and was named to First-team All-SEC and the SEC All-Freshman team. He declared for the 2017 NBA draft after his freshman season. In the NBA, Monk played for the Charlotte Hornets (2017–2021), Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2022), and Sacramento Kings (2022–present). He signed a four-year contract worth $78 million with the Kings on July 6, 2024.

Did You Know?

• Monk scored a career-high 45 points in a 176–175 double-overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers on February 24, 2023.
• In Game 1 of the 2023 playoffs, Monk scored 32 points on perfect 14-of-14 free throw shooting, tying Ed Macauley's record for most free throws made without a miss in a playoff debut.
• Monk was suspended indefinitely in February 2020 for violating the NBA's substance use policy, and was reinstated on June 8, 2020.