NBA Roundup: Monk’s Mystery Minutes, Koloko’s Comeback, and Gonzalez’s Growth
Let’s take a lap around the league, starting in Sacramento where Malik Monk’s role remains a head-scratcher, then swinging through Memphis for a much-needed roster boost, and finishing in Boston, where a rookie is quietly turning heads.
Kings: Monk’s Role Shrinks Without Clear Answers
Malik Monk saw the floor Sunday-but only briefly-and the Kings guard isn’t hiding his confusion about what’s going on.
After sitting out two straight games, Monk logged just under five minutes in Sacramento’s win over Houston. He made his lone field goal attempt, missed a pair of free throws, and finished with two points. For a player who’s been a key piece of the Kings’ offense, especially as a spark plug off the bench, the sudden drop in minutes feels jarring.
Asked if he was confused by the reduced role, Monk didn’t mince words.
“One thousand percent,” he said. “But it’s not my job to try to figure out why I’m not playing.”
Monk said he’s had a private conversation with assistant coach Doug Christie-who’s been filling in with coaching duties-and also heard the public reasoning. Still, the explanation hasn’t brought much clarity.
“He just told me he’s trying something new,” Monk said.
Christie has described Monk as the “odd man out” in a crowded Kings backcourt, citing a numbers game that’s forced some tough rotation decisions. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player who’s shooting the three at a career-best clip and has consistently provided scoring punch.
Monk is under contract for the foreseeable future, so this isn’t a long-term roster question. But the short-term minutes?
That’s up in the air. Whether this is a temporary experiment or a deeper shift remains to be seen, but for now, Monk’s role is as uncertain as it’s ever been in Sacramento.
Grizzlies: Koloko Joins Memphis on 10-Day Deal
The Grizzlies are banged up-badly. With eight players ruled out for Monday’s matchup against the Thunder, Memphis is leaning on the hardship exception to fill out the roster. Enter Christian Koloko.
The 25-year-old center officially signed a 10-day contract on Sunday, giving Memphis a much-needed big body in the frontcourt. Koloko’s path back to the league hasn’t been easy.
After starting the season on a two-way deal with the Lakers, he was waived in November and spent time in the G League. But the biggest hurdle came last season when a blood clot issue sidelined him for the entire 2023-24 campaign.
Now fully cleared, Koloko is getting another shot-and with Memphis in desperate need of healthy players, the timing couldn’t be better.
While he hasn’t logged meaningful NBA minutes since his rookie year in Toronto, Koloko showed flashes of promise back then. For a Grizzlies team just trying to stay afloat amid a brutal injury stretch, he brings size, rim protection, and a chance to prove he still belongs.
Celtics: Hugo Gonzalez Keeps Impressing
In Boston, rookie wing Hugo Gonzalez is starting to make his presence felt-and not just in the box score.
Gonzalez notched his first career double-double on Saturday against Toronto, another step forward in what’s been a quietly impressive start to his NBA journey. He’s carving out a role on the wing, earning trust with his energy, physicality, and willingness to play on the edge.
“He’s finding the balance,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said, referencing Gonzalez’s aggressive style. “You don’t want to take that away.”
That edge is exactly what’s helping Gonzalez stand out in a deep Celtics rotation. He’s not just filling minutes-he’s competing, defending, and making plays that don’t always show up in the stat sheet. For a rookie, that’s often the fastest way to earn a coach’s respect-and more playing time.
Final Thoughts
Three different teams, three very different storylines. Monk’s situation in Sacramento is still murky, and until the rotation shakes out, so is his role.
In Memphis, Koloko’s signing is a reminder of how quickly opportunity can knock in this league-especially when injuries pile up. And in Boston, Gonzalez is proving that hustle and edge can carve out a niche, even on a contender.
It’s a long season, and roles change fast. But for all three players, this week could be a turning point.