A roller coaster rookie year for Malik Monk ended on a high note as the explosive first-year guard broke out in a big way down the stretch for the Charlotte Hornets this season.
Taken with the 11th overall pick last June, Monk’s professional career got off to a rough start as an ankle injury suffered in a predraft workout sidelined him for Summer League play. The Kentucky product continued to deal with the ailment for several weeks, which self-admittedly put him behind things heading into the team’s September training camp.
With second-string point guard Michael Carter-Williams sitting out the start of the season following a knee procedure, the door was open for Monk as the team’s backup to Kemba Walker.