Kings’ Guard Malik Monk Opens Up About Rotation Mystery: “I’ll Be Ready When My Name Is Called”
Malik Monk has never been one to shy away from the moment. Whether it’s a heat-check three or a crucial fourth-quarter bucket, the Kings guard has made a name for himself as one of Sacramento’s most dynamic scorers since arriving in 2022. But over the last few games, Monk has found himself in an unfamiliar role - watching from the bench.
After back-to-back DNP-CDs (Did Not Play - Coach’s Decision), Monk logged a brief second-half appearance in Sunday night’s win over Houston. He played just under five minutes, hit his only shot from the field, missed two free throws, and wrapped up the night with two points and a minus-3 rating. It was a small sample, but it marked his first time back on the floor after a puzzling stretch of inactivity.
And Monk, for his part, is just as confused as anyone else.
“[I’m confused] one thousand percent,” Monk said before the game. “But it’s not my job to try to figure out why I’m not playing. I deem myself more than the whole, so I’ll just be ready when my name is called.”
That’s the mindset of a player who’s been around long enough to know how quickly things can change in the NBA - and how little control players sometimes have over those changes.
Monk shared that he had a private sit-down with interim head coach Doug Christie, who offered a simple explanation: he’s “trying something new.” Monk took it in stride, responding, “Yeah, OK, I’ll be ready whenever my name is called.”
This isn’t just any role player we’re talking about. Monk has been a key piece for Sacramento since signing in the summer of 2022.
He quickly carved out a niche as a high-octane sixth man, finishing sixth and second in Sixth Man of the Year voting in back-to-back seasons. Last year, he even spent time in the starting lineup.
But this season, Christie moved him back to the bench, and the ripple effects have been noticeable.
Through 24 games, Monk is averaging 12.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 23.1 minutes per game. His shooting splits are solid - 43.7% from the field and a career-best 41.1% from deep - but his overall impact has been limited by reduced playing time.
Part of that is due to Sacramento’s crowded backcourt. Christie has been juggling a group that includes defensive specialist Keon Ellis, who drew attention earlier this season when he wasn’t getting minutes despite his defensive chops.
Ellis got a big opportunity against Portland, logging 32 minutes - the same night Monk didn’t see the floor at all. But Ellis has also been dealing with a sore right wrist and was limited to just nine minutes on Sunday.
He wasn’t used in the second half after fouling Reed Sheppard on a three-point attempt just before halftime.
Christie has been candid about the challenges that come with managing this roster, especially at the guard spot.
“There’s a lot of challenges,” Christie said before Sunday’s game. “You can’t play everybody.
It’s just the nature of what it is. This isn’t participation.
It’s professional sports, and right now we have a logjam.”
He added that playing time is up for grabs based on performance and competitiveness - and that if someone isn’t meeting the team’s standards, “there’s a strong possibility they’re going to come out of the game.”
That’s the reality Monk is facing right now. Despite his resume and impact over the last two seasons, he’s become, as Christie put it, the “odd man out” in a numbers game.
Monk is under contract for $20.2 million next season and holds a $21.6 million player option for the 2027-28 season. So unless a trade materializes, this rotation situation might not resolve itself anytime soon.
Still, Monk’s not letting the uncertainty shake his confidence - or his love for playing in front of the Sacramento crowd.
“Everybody knows I want to be out there, especially playing in front of this crowd in Sac,” he said. “But there ain’t s*** I can do about it.”
That’s the unfiltered honesty of a competitor who just wants to hoop. And knowing Monk’s track record, if - or when - his number gets called again, don’t be surprised if he makes the most of it.