Monk emotionally displays on Kings tenure earlier than doable departure initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
SACRAMENTO – Twelve Kings gamers spoke to the media throughout end-of-season exit interviews Monday morning, however a lot of the 2 and a half hours inside Golden 1 Middle was about one man.
Malik Monk’s future has and can proceed to be a trending matter in Sacramento and all through the remainder of the NBA this offseason because the star sixth man is ready to enter free company this summer time, with many anticipating him to land the richest contract of his skilled profession to this point.
Monk was the fifth participant to come back out to the rostrum, however by then, his title had already been tossed round a handful of occasions earlier than he even stepped foot into the room.
When it lastly was his flip to talk to reporters, his tone and responses have been barely completely different than that they had been in earlier press conferences. Even simply as a teammate and particular person, Monk has been described as outgoing, witty, outspoken and blunt. His directness was completely portrayed by the best way he harmlessly interrupted a reporter’s query.
Not on Monday, although.
When Sacramento’s season ended with a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans within the NBA Play-In Event, Monk was seen sitting on the bench for a number of moments after the sport simply soaking within the season. Three days later, he was requested about that second.
“Let go of the season as a result of it was over,” Monk stated. “Determine what I’m going to do going ahead. Simply attempting to let go. Decompress.”
It was a lot tougher for Monk to cover his feelings after the query that adopted.
The reporter requested: “What was the extent of disappointment as you sat there realizing that you just doubtlessly performed your final recreation in Sacramento?”
What adopted was one thing that we haven’t skilled from Monk usually, or in any respect.
Almost six seconds of silence earlier than he was capable of finding the precise phrases to reply.
“Um, onerous to understand,” Monk stated. “I feel that’s why I used to be sitting there a bit of longer. [Kings assistant coach Doug Christie] helped me again to the locker room, like, ‘C’mon.’ However yeah, it was type of …”
Monk paused once more, then uttered that final phrase.
“Bittersweet,” he stated.
The “bitter” a part of that probably stems from the truth that he needed to watch Sacramento’s season finish from the sideline after sustaining an MCL sprain towards the Dallas Mavericks on March 29. A recreation that, with out realizing on the time, may need been his final in a Kings uniform.
A guess for the “candy” facet of issues is that he performed the perfect basketball of his profession throughout his two seasons with the Kings, which is able to assist his large payday this summer time.
Nonetheless, it definitely will probably be a tough resolution for Monk, and the feelings of all of it appeared prevalent Monday morning.
However when confronted about being emotional, Monk downplayed it.
“I simply awoke,” he stated. “I’m type of drained.”
The room full of laughter as he smiled. That’s the Monk we all know. However then he acknowledged the reality.
“Yeah, feelings are in all places, man,” he stated. “I got here right here with considered one of my greatest pals, turned the group round, turned town round. The town loves me, and I stated it earlier than, I like town. So yeah, the feelings are simply in all places proper now.”
Monk has a while to weigh his choices, however as of Monday, he stated he doesn’t know what to anticipate and doesn’t have a real sense of the way it’ll all play out. That primarily is as a result of it is a new place he’s in. For the primary time in his profession, he’s coming off consecutive impactful seasons and has the potential to not solely get his bag, however, for the primary time in his profession, be a starter on an NBA crew.
Whereas there’s lots of uncertainty and stress looming, Monk admitted that “it feels good” to be within the place he’s in after having the begin to his profession that he did – going from questioning if he belonged within the NBA to one of many hottest free-agent commodities this summer time.
“It’s large as a result of I can go some place else with much more cash and be in a worse state of affairs. So that you by no means know,” Monk stated. “Like I stated, I received an excellent agent that’s going to do his job. I feel my job is finished. I did what I wanted to do that 12 months and I feel it’s going to play out the precise approach.”
Monk frankly said that he “positively” desires to start out on a crew subsequent season however added that if “it’s not match” for the crew for him to start out, then he’ll settle for his function off the bench and “run with it.”
For those who ask his teammates, it isn’t even a query – all of them need him again in Sacramento subsequent season.
“I’ve been attempting [to convince him] daily because the starting of coaching camp,” Kings star heart Domantas Sabonis stated Monday. “Clearly, he is aware of what I consider him and the way a lot I care about him. So yeah, hopefully. We might like to have him again.”
On the similar time, gamers perceive the enterprise facet of issues, and in the end need the perfect for Monk.
And it doesn’t matter what he decides, his Kings household will all the time have his again.
“He’s been considered one of my closest pals,” Kings second-year ahead Keegan Murray stated. “Simply having the ability to joke round with him as a result of he all the time retains it gentle hearted. Final summer time, I went {golfing} with him so much. So we type of constructed that bond on the course and that was a great way for us to type of gravitate towards one another. After which on the court docket, we will push one another’s buttons a bit of bit after which we will all the time come again and it’s an excellent bond.
“He’s clearly received a call to make this summer time and he is aware of what’s proper for him, and no matter he decides to decide on, I’ll have his again it doesn’t matter what.”
Murray is simply one of many few younger gamers on the crew who Monk has taken below his wing and mentored.
From Murray to Keon Ellis to Colby Jones and others, Monk used his distinctive management type – which included a number of cursing – to assist uplift guys’ confidence early of their careers.
“They’re probably not younger guys, as a result of we’re type of the identical age, however I’ve simply been within the league a bit of longer. However I feel that’s why they listened to me, as a result of I’ve been round and I’ve been by the identical state of affairs they’re going by,” Monk stated. “That’s what I attempted to inform them, too, to allow them to hearken to me and never attempt to combat it as a result of that’s what I used to be doing, combating it. Combating data. And all people simply took the data and ran with it.
“And you may see that with Keon, he lastly received his confidence once I was attempting to instill that in him since final 12 months. It’s type of bizarre although, being a younger man educating the younger guys. However yeah, I feel I received that from choosing up on what [LeBron James] and [Anthony Davis]how they carry themselves and the way they used to speak to me. I feel that rubbed off a bit of bit on me.”
Monk boasted profession highs throughout his time with Sacramento whereas reminding the NBA what he was able to since getting into the league seven years in the past.
However by the feelings that crammed the press room Monday, by the best way his teammates spoke about him and the way he helped the crew each on and off the ground, it’s clear that his influence in Sacramento went past the sport of basketball.
Monk is appreciative of all of the assist he has obtained from his teammates as he enters a pivotal offseason.
“All the pieces,” he responded when requested what the assist means to him. “All the pieces, man, as a result of they didn’t have to just accept me once I received right here – apart from Fox. However they didn’t have to just accept me how they did. It was nice. All of them welcomed me they usually all hearken to me now. For the reason that final two years, I feel I stepped up as a pacesetter for the crew as a result of Fox will not be that vocal by telling folks what to do. He simply goes on the market and dominates and I feel that’s the best way he leads. So all people received a special strategy to lead man and I feel they simply accepted me to be the chief of this crew in numerous elements.”
Close to the tip of his exit interview, Monk had the identical actual one-word response to 2 questions.
The primary was whether or not the Kings can be taking part in within the NBA playoffs proper now if he hadn’t gotten injured. The second was in an ideal world state of affairs, whether or not he would wish to be in Sacramento.
His reply to each?
“Undoubtedly.”
Sadly for Sacramento, we don’t stay in an ideal world. Issues will play out as they have to, however the doorways within the 916 all the time will probably be open for Monk to return to town that shortly grew to like and adore him. Whether or not that’s in three months or three years is a narrative that’s nonetheless being written.
But when that is Monk’s ultimate chapter with the Kings, Sacramento followers ought to shut that ebook with grace, appreciation and nothing however love for his or her beloved sixth man.
