The Los Angeles Lakers got Malik Monk for an absolute bargain in free agency, signing him to a veteran's minimum of $1.7 million. Wednesday night, he proved his worth, dropping 27 points off the bench in an OT win over the Miami Heat.
Despite the Lakers essentially stealing him in the offseason, Lakers star Anthony Davis always believed that Monk could be an important piece of this squad and even revealed a unique nickname he has for the former Kentucky standout. Via Michael Corvo:
Anthony Davis on Malik Monk: "Bron said it before, I've said it: We call him Microwave. Instant scorer. We still don't know how we got him for what we got him for. He can play."
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) November 11, 2021
Monk was a cold-blooded killer in college with the Wildcats and became the 11th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2017 draft, but he's been a mid-level scorer throughout his NBA career to this point. Monk is proving early on with the Lakers however that he could have a bigger role than his days in Charlotte.
The 23-year-old was on absolute fire against Miami, going 4 for 7 from downtown and 10 for 13 from the field. He hit numerous clutch shots down the stretch for LA and was a big reason they were able to secure the victory. In fact, it was the third straight game Monk scored in double-digits.
A change of scenery and a bigger role could be just what he needs to really live up to his true potential. After a performance like that, you better believe Lakers coach Frank Vogel will be using Monk a lot more moving forward.
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