Malik Monk Bio
Malik Ahmad Monk, born February 4, 1998, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds, Monk plays as a shooting guard and is known for his scoring ability, deep shooting range, and quick offensive instincts. After one standout season at the University of Kentucky, he was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets and has since built a reputation as a reliable scoring guard in the league.
Over the course of his NBA career, Malik Ahmad Monk has played for the Charlotte Hornets, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Sacramento Kings, where he reunited with his former Kentucky teammate De’Aaron Fox. He is a consensus second-team All-American, the 2017 Jerry West Award winner as the nation’s top shooting guard, and a former SEC Player of the Year.
Malik Monk
Early Life and Background
Malik Ahmad Monk was born on February 4, 1998, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to parents Michael Scales and Jackie Monk. He grew up in a family with a strong athletic tradition. His older brother, Marcus Monk, played wide receiver for the Arkansas Razorbacks and earned All-SEC recognition. His cousin, Rashad Madden, played basketball at the University of Arkansas, and his uncle, Chuck Monk, played running back at Arkansas State University. The family environment provided Malik with early exposure to competitive sports and shaped his competitive mindset.
Monk attended East Poinsett County High School in Lepanto, Arkansas, for his freshman year, where he averaged 22.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while leading the team to a 25–8 record and a Class 2A state championship game appearance. After his freshman year, he transferred to Bentonville High School in Bentonville, Arkansas, to compete at a higher level. He continued to develop his game and quickly became one of the most highly recruited prospects in the country.
Path to Basketball
As a junior at Bentonville High School, Malik Ahmad Monk averaged 26.9 points per game, establishing himself as a high-major college prospect. During the spring and summer of 2015, he competed for the Amateur Athletic Union team Arkansas Wings Elite in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, where he averaged 19.7 points per game. He also competed in the 2015 Nike Global Challenge for the East team, averaging 22 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, and earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
As a senior, Monk averaged 28.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. In January 2016, he played in the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, earning Co-Most Valuable Player honors alongside his future Kentucky teammate De’Aaron Fox. Monk was rated as a consensus five-star recruit and the No. 9 overall player in the 2016 high school class, and the No. 1 shooting guard by Rivals, ESPN, Scout, and 247Sports. On November 18, 2015, he committed to the University of Kentucky, choosing the Wildcats over Arkansas. He was also named Mr. Basketball of Arkansas in 2016.
Malik Monk Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Malik Ahmad Monk enrolled at the University of Kentucky for the 2016–17 college basketball season and immediately became one of the most productive freshmen in program history. On December 17, 2016, he set a University of Kentucky freshman scoring record with 47 points in a win over North Carolina. Twelve days later, he scored 34 points on 5-for-7 three-point shooting in a 99–76 win over Ole Miss. He continued to deliver high-scoring performances throughout the season, including 27 points against South Carolina on January 21, 2017, 37 points against Georgia on January 31, 2017, and 33 points in a victory over Florida on February 25, 2017.
At the conclusion of his freshman season, Malik Ahmad Monk was named SEC Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year. He was also a first-team All-SEC selection and a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team. He earned consensus second-team All-American honors and won the Jerry West Award as the nation’s top shooting guard. On March 24, 2017, Monk announced he would forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility and enter the 2017 NBA draft, projected as a first-round selection. Less than 24 hours after teammate De’Aaron Fox announced his own draft decision, Monk declared for the draft as well.
Charlotte Hornets Breakthrough (2017–2021)
On June 22, 2017, Malik Ahmad Monk was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. On July 2, 2017, he signed his rookie-scale contract with the team worth $15,726,047. After missing the 2017 NBA Summer League due to an ankle injury, Monk made an early impact in his rookie campaign. On October 25, 2017, he recorded 17 points, two steals, and two assists in a 110–93 victory over the Denver Nuggets, and on November 1, 2017, he scored 25 points in a 126–121 win against the Milwaukee Bucks with Kentucky coach John Calipari in attendance.
During his rookie season, Monk was assigned to the Hornets’ NBA G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, for one game on December 26, 2017, where he scored 25 points, collected eight rebounds, and recorded four assists. On February 26, 2020, Monk was suspended indefinitely for violating the NBA’s substance use policy. Before the suspension, he was averaging 10.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He was reinstated on June 8, 2020, after being determined to be in compliance with the league’s anti-drug program. On February 1, 2021, he scored a then-career-high 36 points in a 129–121 overtime win over the Miami Heat.
Los Angeles Lakers Era (2021–2022)
On August 6, 2021, Malik Ahmad Monk signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a trade-exception salary deal. He quickly became a key scoring option off the bench for the Lakers. On April 10, 2022, Monk put up a then-career-high 41 points in a 146–141 win over the Denver Nuggets, demonstrating his ability to take over a game as a shooter and slasher. His lone season in Los Angeles helped him reset his career trajectory heading into free agency.
Sacramento Kings Era (2022–Present)
On July 6, 2022, Malik Ahmad Monk signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, reuniting with his former Kentucky teammate De’Aaron Fox. On February 24, 2023, Monk scored a career-high 45 points in a 176–175 double-overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers, the second-highest-scoring game in NBA history. In Game 1 of the Kings’ first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, Monk scored 32 points on a perfect 14-of-14 shooting from the free throw line in a 126–123 win. He also tied Ed Macauley’s record for the most free throws made without a miss in a playoff debut.
On July 6, 2024, Monk re-signed with the Kings on a four-year, $78 million contract, the maximum allowed by Sacramento and incentivized with a player option in the fourth year. He has continued to serve as a primary scoring option and playmaker alongside De’Aaron Fox, helping the Kings remain a playoff contender in the Western Conference.
Driving Style and Strengths
Malik Ahmad Monk is best known for his shooting range, ability to score in bunches, and fearlessness in big moments. He excels as a movement shooter and a pull-up scorer, capable of getting hot quickly from beyond the arc. His quick first step and creativity attacking closeouts make him a difficult cover for opposing wings.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Malik Ahmad Monk’s career came on February 24, 2023, when he erupted for 45 points in the second-highest-scoring game in NBA history. His perfect 14-of-14 free throw performance in his playoff debut against the Golden State Warriors cemented his reputation as a clutch performer on the postseason stage.
Malik Monk Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Malik Ahmad Monk was raised in a deeply athletic family in Jonesboro, Arkansas. His father is Michael Scales, and his mother is Jackie Monk. His older brother, Marcus Monk, was an All-SEC wide receiver for the Arkansas Razorbacks, while his cousin Rashad Madden played basketball for the University of Arkansas. His uncle, Chuck Monk, played running back at Arkansas State University, giving Malik a multi-sport athletic foundation from a young age.
Personal Life
Malik Ahmad Monk was born and raised in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and remains closely tied to his family and home state. He is the younger brother of former Arkansas All-SEC wide receiver Marcus Monk. Monk has been a fixture in Sacramento since 2022, where he has reconnected with college teammate De’Aaron Fox as a key member of the Kings’ rotation.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 NBA season, Malik Ahmad Monk is in the early stages of a four-year, $78 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, signed in July 2024. He is expected to remain a primary scoring option off the bench and a key secondary playmaker alongside De’Aaron Fox, helping power the Kings’ offense as they look to remain in the Western Conference playoff picture. The maximum-incentivized deal reflects the organization’s confidence in his growth as a two-way guard.
With a career-high 45 points already on his resume and a reputation for clutch shooting, Malik Ahmad Monk is positioned to remain one of the league’s premier microwave scorers. The 2025 season offers him an opportunity to continue his ascent as a featured piece in Sacramento’s core rotation.