Mike Brown is making it clear that Malik Monk deserves some Sixth Man of the Year consideration and he’s ready to put his foot down to anyone who’s questioning that statement.
SACRAMENTO -- The storylines heading into the Kings’ clash against the Indiana Pacers all centered around the first on-court meeting between Domantas Sabonis and Tyrese Haliburton on their new teams.
But before Kings coach Mike Brown began his pregame media availability Wednesday at Golden 1 Center, he addressed another issue on his mind.
“Malik Monk should get some mention for Sixth Man of the Year,” Brown said. “I’m just putting that out there. Again, Malik Monk should get some mention for Sixth Man of the Year.”
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Monk appeared to take note of his coach’s faith.
The Kings' sixth man notched 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting in Sacramento's 137-114 drubbing of the Indiana Pacers that snapped a three-game skid. Monk added six assists, four rebounds and two steals. It marked his fifth game with at least 20 points this season and his third in the last four contests.
Monk finished the month of November collecting the second-most total points (241) among NBA reserves. In those 14 November games, Monk averaged 17.2 points and 4.6 assists per contest while shooting 53 percent from the floor and making countless acrobatic finishes at the rim.
On Wednesday night, Monk was one of seven Kings players to score in double figures against Indiana. Terence Davis was the other bench player in double figures, chipping in 15 points. The two combined for perhaps the highlight of the night.
Davis scored two of the Kings’ 31 fast break points with a vicious dunk in transition to give Sacramento a 30-point lead with 7:54 to play. Monk then swiped a lazy Pacers inbounds pass and lofted it above the rim, where Davis ushered it to the bottom of the net and sent the sellout crowd of 17,611 fans on their feet.
"That’s all Malik right there," Davis told NBC Sports California’s Kyle Draper and Kenny Thomas after the win. "He threw it, man. That’s a great pass."
Monk brings more than just his playmaking ability to the Kings' locker room. That electric energy you see come off the bench doesn't stop when he comes off the court.
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“Sometimes as a coach I feel tired,” Brown said before the game. “And then I look at Malik, and he’s laughing and messing with somebody. You jump in the conversation, and he just uplifts you. He’s more than just what you guys are seeing on the floor. He’s been fantastic. Whether it’s on the bus, plane, hotel, shootaround -- he’s been really good for us to have around."
Monk was awarded the honor of lighting the Kings victory beam after the win. He did so while standing next to rapper 50 Cent, who enjoyed a full day in Sacramento and addressed the Kings at shootaround.
Brown brought up the Sixth Man of the Year hype for Monk once again after the game with the victory beam lighting up the Sacramento sky.
“[Monk] should start getting some mention for that Sixth Man of the Year stuff," Brown said after the game. "Especially if we keep playing well.”
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