Former Charlotte Hornets players in the NBA playoffs

Malik Monk

It’s been a couple of years since Monk played for the Hornets. But his ability was obvious when he played in Charlotte. The Sacramento Kings’ sixth man has been important to their return to the playoffs. He’s a scoring spark on the league’s most efficient offense; he averages an efficient 13.5 points per game on 44.8/35.9/88.9 shooting splits. Through his first two career playoff games he’s averaged 25 points per game (both wins).

Monk spent his first four seasons in Charlotte. He could be inconsistent. His three-point percentage ranged from around 28% (2019-20 season) to 40% the next year. He also missed several games. Sometimes with injuries, he missed 30 games with an ankle injury his last season in Charlotte and other times for failing NBA’s drug testing program.

He also admitted that he needed to mature, particularly after spending only a single season in college at Kentucky. So while some fans have lamented that they weren’t able to see this version of Monk for the Hornets, it may not have been possible. Sometimes it’s impossible to improve until traversing a crucible. For Monk, that meant leaving the team that drafted him. He went to the Lakers on a show-and-prove contract and finally found his place further north in California.