Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry expressed admiration for Malik Monk’s perseverance and development, even as the guard’s name continues to surface in trade discussions.
Speaking to Sean Cunningham of KCRA News, Perry highlighted Monk’s journey from a struggling young player in Charlotte to a key contributor in Sacramento. “Lot of respect for Malik Monk,” Perry said. “I remember scouting him when he was playing at Kentucky… and watching him early in his career in Charlotte when he had his struggles at that time. But you knew he had an ability.”
Monk, who re-signed with the Kings last July on a four-year, $78 million contract, delivered a career-best season in 2024–25. The 27-year-old averaged 17.2 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.8 rebounds over 65 games, earning a starting role in 45 contests.
Perry credited Monk’s ability to respond to early adversity as a sign of maturity. “What I like to see a lot of times in guys when things don’t work out somewhere, how do they respond,” he said. “It tells me a lot about him… he was able to look himself in the mirror and say, ‘Hey, okay this is on me.’”
In recent weeks, Monk has been linked to a potential three-team deal involving the Warriors and Pistons.
The Kings are evaluating ways to improve their roster after finishing 40–42 last season and missing the playoffs.
Despite the trade chatter, Perry emphasized his positive interactions with Monk, saying they’ve had “very good” conversations both in person and over the phone. “So we knew each other a little bit, getting to know each other a lot better now,” he added.
