Charlotte Hornets: Nicolas Batum compares Malik Monk to C.J. McCollum
Nicolas Batum gave Malik Monk high praise as he compared the Charlotte Hornets’ rookie to one of the top scoring shooting guards in the NBA.
After a training camp practice, Nicolas Batum talked to the media and told Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer that Malik Monk reminds him of C.J. McCollum. Nic compared the two by saying that the Charlotte Hornets‘ rookie is an “attacking shooting guard with no reluctance to put up shots” which resembles the same style of play as the Portland Trail Blazers‘ guard.
Batum played with McCollum in Portland for the first two years of C.J.’s career after he was drafted by the Blazers in 2013. Charlotte traded for Nicolas in 2015 but the France international got to know McCollum and became familiar with his game.
Both Malik and C.J. have the ability to stretch the floor. They’ve each made their mark by being able to knock down outside shots from beyond the three-point line with consistency. What Monk lacks in his length/wingspan, he more than makes up for with his athleticism. They were each taken in the lottery with McCollum being drafted at No 10 while the Hornets took the Kentucky product at No. 11.
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Aside from their similar skillset, Monk and McCollum also have a similar build. Malik stands at about 6’3 and 200 pounds while C.J. is about the same at 6’3, 190 pounds. While both could be considered a bit undersized for the shooting guard spot at the NBA level, they make it work in their favor.
If Monk can end up being a McCollum-type player a few years down the road, I think that would be a great outcome for Charlotte. Malik could be the secondary scoring guard alongside Kemba Walker much like C.J. is for Damian Lillard. The Blazers’ shooting guard has made a name for himself in the NBA as he averaged 23 points per game (20th in the league and sixth among SG’s) last season on 48% shooting from the field and 42.1% from three.
The main difference between the two at this point in their careers, aside from Monk being unproven as a rookie, is McCollum’s defensive ability. Despite his size, C.J. has become a pretty good individual defender. Malik doesn’t have a strong reputation as an elite defender but Steve Clifford and Kemba Walker have said multiple times that the rookie must work on his defensive intensity in order to be successful as a pro.
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The Charlotte Hornets have needed to add another scorer for some time and they are hoping that Malik can help take some of the scoring load off of Kemba. I think Batum summed up Monk’s game the best by saying he’s an attacking shooting guard. Monk isn’t afraid to take and make shots from just about anywhere on the floor.