Malik Monk Sets 82-Game Goal for Upcoming Kings Season

The most games Malik Monk has ever played in one season is 77, which came during the Beam Team year. (It seems impossible to write about the Kings anymore without using the 2022-23 season as a milestone, a before and after, a foggy memory we all look back on fondly briefly before we slip back into Kangz.)

Anyhow, a key to that season was Monk providing an electric spark off the bench. Any time he hits the floor now, it’s difficult not to remember that, and he still provides some of those electric moments off the bench.

He’s hoping to be out there a lot more this season as he stated on Monday that his goal this season is to play 82 games.

“Just getting stronger man, and trying to last 82 games. I’m trying to play 82 this year, so I’ve been doing a lot, working on my body just trying to get all of the small muscles strong,” he said.

Last season, Monk played in 62 games and in 65 the year before that. He’s played more than 70 games in four seasons over his nine-year career, and one of the seasons on the lower end was cut short because of COVID. His .395% from three last year was the second highest of his career. He averaged 12.5 points, 3 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 22 minutes per game.

The Kings are going to have some combination of Nique Clifford, Precious Achiuwa, Dylan Cardwell, Emanuel Sharp, Ben Simmons (depending on how training camp and preseason shake out with the starting lineup), Alex Karaban and Maxime Raynaud off the bench this season. So, depending on how that rotation shakes out, there is going to be plenty of room for Monk to deliver that veteran guard scoring punch off the bench this season. Though Sharp offers some definite upside we’re all going to want to see.

Monk is set to make $20 million this season and $21 million next, which is the last year of his four-year deal he signed with Sacramento in 2024.

Monk said he likes the additions the Kings have made this offseason.

“I like all the moves they made. I think we’ll surprise a lot of people so I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “We’ve got to stay healthy, first of all. If we’re healthy, I think we’ll be alright.”