CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego said second-year shooting guard Malik Monk could very well be an important part of the team's reinvented offense this season at media day on Monday. Monk was drafted with the No. 11 overall pick from Kentucky, a school known for producing NBA stars. He was considered the most talented pure shooter in the draft by many NBA experts while playing alongside Bam Adebayo and De'Aaron Fox in college. However, Monk didn't have the type of rookie year fans expected from him. His new coach expects him to contribute in a big way this season.
“He has a chance to be very special in this offense and this system,” said Borrego. “He's worked extremely hard this summer. He's been in the gym every single day since I've been here. We've challenged him early on. When I first got this job, he was one of my focal points, because he fits today's NBA. He can score, he can run, he's athletic and he can play-make. His challenge now, is can he do it every day.”
The 20-year-old Monk averaged 6.7 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.4 assists while averaging 13.5 minutes last year. He shot nearly 40 percent from deep in college, but didn't really get enough shots to warm up to the NBA distance. The 34 percent clip he reached from behind the arc last year should improve this time around. Malik Monk is 6-foot-3 and has a 42-inch vertical, making him a dual, inside-outside threat to shoot from beyond and attack the rim.
Monk eased into the flow of the NBA game as the season progressed last year. He played a few minutes here and there, but didn't really get to show what he was capable of until the very end. In his best performance of the year, he put up 26 points and eight assists in a crushing 137-100 victory over the Orlando Magic. Both these figures were career highs and his scoring mark gave him the highest single-game total by a Hornets rookie since D.J. Augustin back in 2009. This accomplishment is nice, but Monk wants to play a bigger role this year, regardless of his position.
“My game was fine last year. It was just the style we were playing,” said Monk. “We've actually been scrimmaging a lot. Me and Kemba (Walker) have been switching. Whoever gets the ball just goes. There's really no positions in basketball anymore. I'm not worried about the pace. We've been up there scrimmaging with 12 second shot clocks.”
Borrego has emphasized that he wants his players to be decisive and choose to attack the basket, shoot, or pass shortly after receiving the ball this year. He also wants them to work on their efficiency shooting the long ball. The Hornets shot 36.4 percent as a team on shots between 20 and 24 feet last season, placing them 27th in the league. Clearly, there's definitely room for improvement, and while losing a post presence in Dwight Howard will hurt, Borrego believes a group effort on the boards can get the job done.
Kemba Walker is the only starter who is set in stone for the Hornets for the upcoming season. Competition will be fierce, and Monk will be among the top candidates for a serious breakout sophomore season if he works well in the system.
Follow Us
Subscribe