Malik Monk isn’t a household name the way LeBron James or Stephen Curry is, but NBA fans who watch closely know what he brings. He’s a sixth man who can drop 30 points on any given night, a spark off the bench who changes games with his scoring bursts.
His career path took longer than expected. Drafted 11th overall in 2017, he spent years bouncing between roles before finding his fit with the Sacramento Kings. Sometimes talent needs the right situation to show itself.
Quick Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Malik Ahmad Monk |
| Date of Birth | February 4, 1998 |
| Age | 27 years old |
| Birthplace | Jonesboro, Arkansas |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Professional Basketball Player |
| NBA Team | Sacramento Kings |
| Position | Shooting Guard |
| Height | 6’3″ (191 cm) |
Growing Up in Arkansas
He was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, a city of about 75,000 people in the northeastern corner of the state. His parents are Jackie Monk and Michael Scales. Athletics ran in the family—his older brother Marcus Monk played as an All-SEC wide receiver for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Basketball entered his life early, though the details of exactly how aren’t widely documented. What’s clear is that by high school, he was already showing the scoring ability that would define his game.
He started at East Poinsett County High School in Lepanto for his freshman year, averaging 22.8 points. Then he transferred to Bentonville High School, where his numbers climbed—26.6 points as a junior, then 28.6 points with 7.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists as a senior.
That senior year got him noticed nationally. He was named Arkansas Mr. Basketball, played in the McDonald’s All-American Game, and earned Jordan Brand Classic All-Star honors. By then, he was ranked the No. 9 recruit in the country heading into college.
Family Background
His mother Jackie and father Michael raised him in Arkansas. Beyond that, they’ve stayed out of the public eye. He has his older brother Marcus, who played football at Arkansas, and his cousin Rashad Madden also played basketball at the University of Arkansas.
The family connection to Arkansas athletics runs deep, which makes his college decision more interesting. Despite growing up surrounded by Arkansas fandom and having family who played for the Razorbacks, he chose Kentucky instead. That didn’t sit well with locals, but it was his choice to make.
From High School to the NBA
His one season at Kentucky became legendary for one game. On December 17, 2016, he scored 47 points against North Carolina in a 103-100 win. It’s still called “the Malik Monk game” by Kentucky fans. He shot 18-of-28 from the field, including 8-of-12 from three-point range.
That performance cemented his status as a lottery pick. After one year at Kentucky, he declared for the 2017 NBA Draft. The Charlotte Hornets selected him 11th overall on June 22, 2017.
His rookie contract with Charlotte was worth $15.7 million over four years. He missed summer league with an ankle injury, but by October he was playing. He scored 17 points in his fourth NBA game and followed that with 25 against Milwaukee a week later.
But consistency was hard to find. During his years in Charlotte, he bounced between the rotation and the G League. In February 2020, he was suspended indefinitely for violating the NBA’s substance use policy. He was reinstated in June after complying with the program requirements.
Finding His Place in the League
After four years in Charlotte, he signed with the Lakers in August 2021. That season in LA showed flashes—he scored a then-career-high 41 points against Denver in April 2022. But the Lakers didn’t bring him back.
In July 2022, he signed a two-year, $19 million deal with Sacramento, reuniting with his former Kentucky teammate De’Aaron Fox. That’s where things clicked.
Playing as the Kings’ sixth man, he averaged career highs in both points (15.4) and assists (5.1) during the 2023-24 season. He finished second in voting for Sixth Man of the Year. His role was clear: come off the bench and provide instant offense when the starters needed a break.
On February 24, 2023, he scored a career-high 45 points in a 176-175 double-overtime win over the Clippers—the second-highest-scoring game in NBA history. In Game 1 of the 2023 playoffs against Golden State, he scored 32 points on perfect 14-of-14 shooting from the free throw line.
According to Basketball-Reference, he has made at least $54.3 million in NBA career earnings through the 2024-25 season, with $17.4 million earned in 2025 alone.
Net Worth and Professional Earnings
Net worth figures for athletes are estimates based on contracts, endorsements, and investments. These aren’t official disclosures.
His estimated net worth sits somewhere between $10-15 million. Most of that comes from NBA contracts rather than endorsement deals, which aren’t as common for players in his role.
In July 2024, he re-signed with the Kings on a four-year, $78 million contract. According to Spotrac, this deal includes a player option for the 2027-28 season worth $21.58 million, giving him flexibility down the road.
His salary for the 2024-25 season is approximately $15.9 million, climbing to $17.1 million in 2025-26. If he exercises the player option in year four, he’d make $21.58 million in 2027-28.
For context, that’s solid money for a sixth man but nowhere near max contract territory. It reflects his value—extremely good at his role but not a franchise centerpiece.
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Physical Profile and Playing Style
At 6’3″ and 200 pounds, he’s average size for a shooting guard. His game isn’t built on physicality—it’s about shooting and shot creation.
He can get hot from three-point range and string together multiple makes in a row. His handle is good enough to create his own shot off the dribble. He’s not a lockdown defender, but he competes on that end.
His best skill is scoring in bunches. When he’s in rhythm, he can change a game’s momentum in five minutes. That’s why he’s valuable coming off the bench—starters tire, and suddenly he’s attacking a defense that isn’t fresh anymore.
Life Away From Basketball
There’s limited public information about his personal life. He’s active on Instagram (@ahmad_monk) and Twitter (@AhmadMonk), where he posts about basketball and occasional personal moments, but he doesn’t share much about relationships or family life beyond his parents and brother.
He’s not married as far as public records show. If he’s in a relationship, he’s kept it private, which is his right. Not every player needs to share everything publicly.
Children and Personal Responsibilities
There’s no public information about whether he has children. This isn’t something every athlete discusses openly, and absence of information doesn’t mean anything one way or another.
He seems focused primarily on basketball at this stage of his career. At 27, he’s entering his prime years as a player and likely concentrating on making the most of his current contract situation.
Read Also: Jay Cutler Biography: Personal Life, Net Worth, Career, and Legacy
Why His Career Story Feels Relatable
His path shows that talent doesn’t always translate immediately. He was a top-15 pick who struggled for years to find consistent playing time. Some players would have given up or settled for being a rotation piece.
Instead, he kept working. The suspension in 2020 could have derailed everything, but he came back from it. Moving from Charlotte to LA to Sacramento, he kept searching for the right fit rather than accepting a limited role somewhere comfortable.
The fact that it took seven years to have his breakout season makes the success more meaningful. Overnight stardom is rare. Most players grind for years before things click, and when they do, it feels earned rather than given.
Common Questions Fans Ask
Is Malik Monk related to Marcus Monk?
Yes, Marcus Monk is his older brother. Marcus played wide receiver for the Arkansas Razorbacks and had a brief NFL career.
Why didn’t He play for Arkansas?
He chose Kentucky over Arkansas despite family connections to the Razorbacks. The decision upset Arkansas fans, but Kentucky offered him a better platform for NBA preparation with coach John Calipari’s track record of developing lottery picks.
What happened with his NBA suspension?
In February 2020, he was suspended indefinitely by the NBA for violating the league’s substance use policy. He was reinstated in June 2020 after complying with the program. Specific details about what he tested positive for weren’t publicly disclosed.
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