Malik Monk averaged career highs in points (15.4) and assists (5.1) last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in March.
Free agent guard Malik Monk, the runner-up for the 2023-24 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, plans to sign a four-year, $78 million contract to return to the Sacramento Kings, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Monk intends to sign the new deal once the league’s moratorium ends on July 6.
ESPN Sources: Free agent G Malik Monk intends to sign a four-year, $78 million deal — including a player option — to return to the Sacramento Kings. Monk had career-bests of 15 points and five assists on his way to the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year runner-up. pic.twitter.com/J8KuOwPl0H
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2024
Free agency does not begin until June 30, but this agreement was not in violation of any league rules. Under terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, teams could start speaking to their own free agents one day after the conclusion of the NBA Finals.
Since joining the Kings prior to the 2022-23 season, Monk has blossomed into one of the best bench players in the NBA. He led all players in points (1,110) and assists (370) off the bench last season and set career highs with 15.4 points and 5.1 assists.
Monk missed the final nine games of the regular season and the Play-In Tournament after suffering a right MCL sprain on March 29.
Monk was the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, spending four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers for one season.
