New Orleans Hornets' rookie Malik Monk was expected by most to be selected somewhere in the top-10 of the in this past NBA Draft.
Monk, himself, believed he would be selected by the New York Knicks, who boasted the eight selection in the draft. However, the Knicks ended up taking the 19-year-old French point guard Frank Ntilikina, and Monk ended up falling to the Hornets with the 11th overall pick.
Monk, who remains out with an ankle sprain suffered during pre-draft workouts, admits he was somewhat shocked with his fall in the draft.
“I was surprised a lot of teams passed on me,” said Monk. “Every team where you (audition) says nice things about you. But I got picked here for a reason.”
Monk also added that while he was initially disappointed with his free-fall, he has embraced playing for the legendary Michael Jordan.
“I’m playing for the greatest player who ever played basketball,” Monk said Tuesday of Hornets owner and Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. “I can call and ask him questions, and I have (new teammates) Kemba (Walker) and Dwight (Howard), too.”
It certainly shouldn't hurt Monk's chances of becoming a legitimate NBA talent playing under the greatest shooting guard to ever play the game. While there are some questions about Monk's size, defense, and perimeter-oriented game, some of those doubts could potentially be erased with a solid rookie season.
And don't forget, Michael Jordan, who is widely considered the best player of all-time, was drafted with the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. If Jordan could be passed up for the likes of Sam Bowie, then Monk's fall in the draft could be justified to a lesser extent.
Either way, it looks like Monk will have a similar chip on his shoulder, much like the GOAT himself.
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