Malik Monk on re-signing with Kings: ‘It felt like home here.’

Jul 6, 2024, 11:12 AM | Updated: 11:33 am

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 29: Malik Monk #0 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game aga...

(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Following months of uncertainty regarding Malik Monk’s future with the Sacramento Kings, the guard reached an agreement on a four-year, $78 million deal on June 20th to remain with the ‘Beam Team’ and avoid free agency.

Monk, 26, left more money on the table from other interested teams to remain with the Kings, and the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up spoke with the media on Saturday morning to explain his decision to return to Sacramento.

Monk on his decision to return to Sacramento

“It felt like home. It just felt right, everything felt right. I don’t go anywhere and feel uncomfortable. I go everywhere and feel comfortable, and that’s what home feels like. I’m back.”

Does Monk want to start?

“Of course I want to start, but I’m coming here free-minded and will do whatever the team needs me to do. But if I feel like I need to start, I might voice it because I now I got a voice a little bit, I can say something that will stand. But yeah, I’m coming here free minded and coming here to win games.”

On having unfinished business with the Kings

“That’s another reason. I feel like we all got unfinished business. [Kevin Huerter] went out too, I went out. I feel like weren’t healthy and I felt like we didn’t get a fair share of us playing… Like I said, I’m back.”

Listen to and watch the full interview on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube page.

More on Malik Monk

In his second season with the Kings, Monk posted averages of 15.4 points (career-high), 2.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists (career-high), and 0.6 steals per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent from three-point range over 72 games (26.0 minutes per appearance).

Monk’s growth as a playmaker made him a weapon for Sacramento’s offense, as the Kentucky product passed 2002-03 Sixth Man of the Year winner Bobby Jackson (629) for the most assists by a reserve in franchise history.

Among league leaders, Monk led all NBA reserves in the following categories:

Games with 5+ assists: 45
Games with 10+ points and 5+ assists: 34
Games with 15+ points: 38
Games with 20+ points: 25
Points Scored: 1,110
Assists: 370

When is the next NBA off-season date of interest?

The 2024 California Classic is here!

Sacramento will have two teams–one that will play at Golden 1 Center and another that will travel to Chase Center in San Francisco–as games will take place starting Saturday, July 6th.

Keon Ellis and Colby Jones will lead the Kings into action on Saturday night at 7:00 pm PDT against the Chinese National Team.

Sactown Sports 1140 will have all of your Sacramento Kings coverage for the California Classic, Summer League, free agency, and much more!