Kings Shake Up Backcourt Rotation as Keon Ellis Gets Extended Run, Monk Sits
For the first time since the 2022-23 season, Malik Monk didn’t see the floor Thursday night. The Kings guard was a DNP-CD in Sacramento’s 134-133 overtime loss to the Trail Blazers, a surprising move that signals a shakeup in the Kings’ already crowded backcourt rotation.
After the game, interim head coach Doug Christie addressed the decision, calling Monk the “odd man out” as the team leaned into a more defensive approach. That meant more minutes for Keon Ellis - and none for Monk.
“We were going with defense, but it’s a logjam,” Christie said postgame. “We’ve got a lot of guards, so whenever it was Keon being the odd man out, then it was Keon being out. Tonight, we were playing Keon, so Malik was out.”
That’s the reality of Sacramento’s current situation. At 6-21, the Kings are still searching for something - anything - that can jumpstart their season. Christie made it clear that this rotation isn’t set in stone, but he liked what he saw from Ellis, who logged a season-high 32 minutes in Portland and brought noticeable energy on the defensive end.
“We’ll give Keon a run and allow him to continue to develop with those guys,” Christie said. “He came in off the bench, I thought, and played fantastic with that bench unit.
They did a really good job in the third quarter. It just kind of got away from us.
We got stalled out a little bit, but they came back with the starters and Keon was a part of that group. … I thought those guys did a great job.”
The Kings’ backcourt has been a game of musical chairs all season, and Christie is clearly willing to experiment. Ellis’ performance - especially his defensive presence and chemistry with the second unit - earned him a longer look. Whether that continues at Monk’s expense remains to be seen, but for now, the Kings are prioritizing stops over scoring as they try to claw their way out of a brutal start.
Around the West: Brooks’ Tech Rescinded, Nuggets Face Trade Deadline Hurdles, Jokic Makes History, Mitchell Reflects
Brooks Gets a Break from the League
The NBA has rescinded the technical foul handed to Suns forward Dillon Brooks during Thursday’s game against the Warriors. Brooks appeared to be hit with the tech after a layup and stumble led to some animated words - but the league reviewed the play and decided it didn’t warrant a whistle. Even with the reversal, Brooks still leads the league with eight technicals this season, a stat that speaks volumes about his fiery on-court presence.
Denver’s Deadline Dilemma
Don’t expect the Nuggets to make a splash at the trade deadline - not because they don’t want to, but because their hands are tied. Denver is hovering near the luxury tax, has limited draft capital, and lacks a mid-tier contract that would make salary matching easy. Zeke Nnaji, who’s earning $8.2 million this season, might be the most movable piece, but with two more years left on his deal, his value isn’t exactly peaking.
This is the price of contending. Denver’s core is locked in, and while that continuity has its benefits, it also limits flexibility. Unless something unexpected opens up, the Nuggets may have to ride with what they’ve got.
Jokic Surpasses Kareem in Historic Assist Milestone
Nikola Jokic added another line to his growing Hall of Fame résumé on Thursday, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most assists by a center in NBA history. Kareem racked up 5,660 assists over 20 seasons.
Jokic? He got there in just 11, and he’s only 30.
“This is a time that I can be able to look back and appreciate all the years I’ve had to play this game with him,” Jamal Murray said of his longtime teammate. “It’s special.
Passing Kareem in anything is pretty cool. So I think it just speaks to his greatness and how unselfish he is.”
Jokic’s ability to control the game as a passer - not just from the elbow, but from anywhere on the court - has redefined what it means to be a modern big man. He’s not just a center who can pass; he’s a point guard in a 7-footer’s body.
Ajay Mitchell Reflects on Rookie Year, Injury, and Growth
Thunder wing Ajay Mitchell is still soaking in the whirlwind of his rookie season - one that already includes a championship ring. In a recent interview, Mitchell opened up about his journey, including the toe injury that sidelined him for three months last season.
“I know it sounds crazy, but this was my first major injury ever, and looking back on everything we went through, it made me realize how special being a part of this organization truly is,” Mitchell said.
He credited Thunder GM Sam Presti for being by his side throughout the recovery process, and while he hasn’t focused much on individual accolades like Most Improved Player, the experience has clearly shaped his perspective.
Sometimes, the setbacks are what solidify a player’s foundation. For Mitchell, the injury may have been a detour - but it also became a defining moment in his young career.