How Kings rookies helped Malik Monk stay ready to make impact in win vs. Lakers
How Kings rookies helped Malik Monk stay ready to make impact in win vs. Lakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It hasn’t been an easy 2025-26 NBA season so far for the Kings, and the same can be said for Malik Monk.
But Sacramento has put together two consecutive wins after their dominant 124-112 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night at Golden 1 Center, and the veteran point guard has battled through adversity to make an impact in both. Staying ready hasn’t been easy, but taking up a mentorship role has helped Monk focus on the task at hand: contributing no matter what his situation is.
“Man, come in here, whether I’m playing or not — come on, man, watch out,” Monk told Morgan Ragan and Kyle Draper on “Kings Postgame Live” as rookie centers Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud interrupted the interview. “Just dealing what I was dealing with, coming in and not hanging my head, talking to my rooks right here that just came up, just trying to teach them the game and keep my mind off of the stuff I can’t control. So that’s how I just stay ready.
“Kept getting shots up, staying with my work and playing the game like this, man. Playing the game like this. Happy about it.”
Malik Monk shares how he has stayed ready to make an impact … with a surprise guest appearance 😅 pic.twitter.com/ao0idRtrBm
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 13, 2026
Monk has dealt with trade rumors and DNPs in recent weeks, sitting three straight games from Jan. 2-6 after two DNPs in December, but helping the rookies has allowed him to keep a clear head and contribute off the bench. He scored 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field and 7 of 9 from deep with a game-high-tying eight assists against the Lakers, one night after contributing 15 points in Sacramento’s home win over the Houston Rockets.
Malik Monk from downtown 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xNnukep5Kk
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 13, 2026
Malik for three? BANG. pic.twitter.com/ipyNlzSvdK
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 12, 2026
While Monk said after Monday’s game he wasn’t given a specific adjustment he needed to make in order to return to the Kings’ rotation, coach Doug Christie told reporters the point guard has played to Sacramento’s “standard” over the last two games with Dennis Schröder suspended.
“… Everything about his focus. He’s talented as hell, man,” Christie said after the win. “So defensive intensity, coverages, communicating with his teammates. Everything about him has been top-notch. So, he deserves everything. He was the player of the game for us. The 26 points, as I told him, fantastic. It was the eight assists that was really impressive for me, actually, because he has the capabilities to do all those things.”
Monk’s teammate Russell Westbrook never felt worried that time on the bench would impact the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award finalist.
“Not surprising to me,” Westbrook told reporters postgame. “‘Lik can hoop, can put the ball in the hole. Give [him] an opportunity, he’ll produce some shape or form. If it’s not scoring, generating off — he [does] good job of making the best play for somebody else as well, too. So, I never worry about Malik one bit.”
Nothing is certain — in life, or in the NBA. But ensuring he’s prepared to make an impact helped Monk contribute to the Kings’ 10th win of the season and just their second winning streak of the campaign, on a back-to-back, no less.
When Sacramento plays former Kings coach Mike Brown and the New York Knicks on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center, Monk no doubt will look to do the same as the team seeks it’s first three-game streak of the season.
“Definitely trying to come in and make an immediate impact so I can stay on the court,” Monk said. “So yeah … I do that, I’ll be out there.”
And in the meantime, he’ll continue to teach Sacramento’s promising group of youngsters.
