The Sacramento Kings announced Saturday that Malik Monk will miss at least four week after suffering a sprained right MCL. Earlier in the day, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski had reported the timeline as 4-6 weeks.
From the Kings:
Kings guard Malik Monk injured his right knee during the first quarter versus the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, March 29. Imaging confirmed Monk suffered an MCL sprain. Monk will be listed as out and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Monk expressed his disappointment via Twitter:
🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️😒
— Malik Monk (@AhmadMonk) March 30, 2024
This is a devastating blow to the Kings, who are currently fighting for their playoff lives. The Kings are currently the 8th seed in the West, and it’s looking less and less likely that the Kings will avoid the play-in. Without Monk, their third-best player and a top contender for 6th Man of the Year, it’s hard to have a lot of optimism right now.
The timeline of the injury essentially rules Monk out for the year unless the Kings manage a miraculous postseason run. Monk also enters unrestricted free agency this summer. Hopefully our last image of Monk in a Kings uniform isn’t Luka Doncic landing on Monk’s leg. And although Monk has appeared in 72 games this season and absolutely deserves the 6th Man of the Year award, I’m worried this injury and recency bias will rob him of his award and recognition.
This really is just a shitty situation all around. There’s really not much else to say other than get well soon, Malik.
Time to see who will step-up to finish the season. Will Fox and Domas carry this team?
Keegan has a great opportunity to be realize he is the 3rd best player on the team.
Davion going to be “that guy” and elevate his play for the final several games?
Davion, the Duarte of early March, along with the return of Sasha and Lyles may be able to replace Monk’s shooting on the second unit. None of them nor anyone else on the team has shown anywhere near his ability to create for himself and others. I have no idea what Coaches Brown and Triano can do to replace that spark.
Davion, Duarte and Kessler need to play the best basketball of their lives. Jones might have to too. What’s that saying about pressure? It crushes?
it makes diamonds as well
I have yet to see Domas really carry this team when it counts. In 1/2 court in close games. Now is his opportunity but I’m dubious.
Keegs needs to take over too but part of the issue for both is Browns 1/2 court O that suits neither player-or Barnes for that matter.
Maybe this’ll force the Kings to figure this out? But doubt it
The way the Kings operate is not intended to make Sabonis a focal point for scoring. They mainly depend on him to rebound, bring up the ball, initiate the offense, set screens and pass the ball.
How many time have you seen anyone set a screen for Domas, to free him up to operate down low? Or clear his side of the floor to go one on one?
Greg, I am guessing that there is something that you, and many in this community are probably unaware.
I am referring to the name, Malik.
In many of the Arabic based dialects, Malik means King.
No, really, this is so. Please believe me.
Therefore, it is only logical that Mr. Monk signs to remain in Sacramento.
If his name meant, Celtic, or Timberwolf, or Knickerbocker, or some other such translation, that would be different. We know that it doesn’t mean Hornet, and we know how that turned out. And it doesn’t mean Laker either. See, there is precedent, history and meaning to this line of reasoning.
Get well soon, Malik Monk.
I’m guessing Davion gets his minutes. Injury bug hit this team at the wrong time. Lyles, Sasha, Huerter, and now Monk. Hopefully Sasha and Lyles come back strong.
This sucks for the Kings and for us as fans. I hope we’ll be able to fill in the gap somehow.
But it mostly sucks for Malik Monk. I wish him a speedy recovery and the 6th Man of the Year award.
With Monk and Huerter now lost for the season, what chance do folks around here give the Kings to make it to an actual 7 game series in the playoffs?
I’m at around 5% chance. I feel they will fall to 9th place and will have to win 2 play-in games to make it the playoffs.
I’m not optimistic, but it’s all so close together and so much can happen in the last 9 games, also to other teams. Who knows?
I’m at the crossing that bridge when we get there-mindset, and I sincerely hope it won’t be Baltimore-style.
Agree, that is just realistic life in the NBA . However, it still sucks .
I have a feeling they will end up at 8th or 9th ultimately. The fact that the Lakers, Warriors, and Rockets have been winning games lately is not making me feel any better (Lakers are 1.5 games behind us, Warriors only one game behind the Warriors). At least we have the tiebreaker against the Lakers and Warriors.
Having to play Durant, LeBron, Curry, or the Rockets who have kicked our ass in a do or die game doesn’t make me feel optimistic.
Let’s call it what it is. This team is toast in a 7 games series and an easy out.
It’s over.
Hope we see some Colby Jones in the upcoming games, am really interested to see how he’s developed over the season.
From what little I’ve seen of him, I think Colby still plays with a bit too much reckless abandon. He’s likely to hurt more than help in the race for a playoff/play-in spot. In an even smaller sample size, I think Mason Jones may be able to contribute a few minutes without hurting us nearly as much.
If we’re being honest, when we are dependent on the Joneses to make positive contributions, then our remaining core (Domas, Fox, Keegan, Barnes, Keon, Davion Duarte and Len – assuming Lyles and Sasha can’t contribute) isn’t delivering the goods.
I expect the rotations to shrink and our main guys to log a lot of minutes.
I think he’s one injury away still. Or if a pg gets in foul trouble, his ball handling might be needed. He doesn’t seem fully engaged lately.
Hoping he makes a jump in year two … but yeah, he has to be ready now just in case.
The rest of the season just became a pressure cooker for our youngsters, yay!
Going to be a tough go if we can’t get some solid / above average production out of someone besides Keon.
Hope Malik heals up proper, don’t care when he comes back just so long as its next year with the Kings.
Heading to G1C tonight, hoping the team can figure out how to eke out a couple more wins heading into the playoffs. Its going to be tough but I think we have some pieces that can still get the job done if they play to their potential.
Let’s go Kings!!!
Off topic: does anyone know what’s going on with Skal in the g league? Doesn’t look like he’s played for a while.
Perhaps this is a good opportunity to see how well the Kings do without Monk with their current roster construction to see how important it is to resign him.
Get well Malik. I hope it’s not the last time we see him in a Kings uniform. Had a lot of memorable moments for us these past two years. As far as the rest of the season goes, I’ll just take it a day at a time.
Monk is like a magnifying glass. Hot as fuck!
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