Malik Monk played a wide variety of roles for the Sacramento Kings last season. As he said following the conclusion of their 2024-25 season, he “had to be four different players.”

“I felt more comfortable starting at the two (shooting guard),” Monk said when asked his preference last April. “I felt like I was flowing then. I love that role.”

Tallying 5.6 assists last year, Monk is an exceptional passer who shines playing pick-and-roll with Sabonis.

But there’s a difference from being a strong, willing passer and the point guard responsibility of orchestrating an offense.

“You have to be (a point guard) your whole life to be a great NBA point guard,” Monk said when asked about the difference five and a half months later amid training camp.

“Can’t get a job that day, go out there and play point guard and be great at it, especially in the NBA. You’ve got to communicate. You’ve got to run the team. You’ve got to run the defense. You’ve got to know what the shot clock is. It’s a lot that goes into that.”

Monk’s playmaking is more than capable, but he made his way to the NBA as a spark plug, microwave scorer. Think back to his Kentucky days, where De’Aaron Fox orchestrated the offense, allowing Monk to play freely.

“With the two, (it’s) go play basketball,” he continued Thursday. “So, it’s two totally different jobs.”

Per basketball-reference, Monk played 53 percent of his 2,054 regular-season minutes last season at point guard and 46 percent as a shooting guard.

It wouldn’t be surprising if he were asked to do both in 2025-26 as well.

Amid Sacramento’s first Doug Christie-led training camp this week, Monk has mainly been getting repetitions with the bench unit.

Seen wearing the starter-black practice pennies have been Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis.

Christie has not revealed his planned starters, but that grouping seems most likely.

From the limited amount reporters have seen at the end of practices, Monk was sharing the second unit backcourt with Malik Monk and Devin Carter, each at separate times.

Obviously, the black-and-white (or, in this case, black and gray) nature of practice lineups doesn’t accurately represent the staggering that takes place during live action.

For example, if Monk were to be an early substitute for DeRozan or LaVine, he could still function as the two alongside three to four other starters.

But being one of the team’s two or three best guard playmakers will probably necessitate moments at the point.

As Christie often points out, though, it’s not about who starts, but who closes.

Although it may be tough to draw a preference over the starting backcourt, it’s not hard to see Monk earning that opportunity on various nights throughout the long 82-game season ahead.

More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports

Following a long, busy–and then very quiet–offseason, Sacramento Kings basketball is back.

The Beam Team tips off training camp this week as they prepare for October 8th’s preseason opener against the Toronto Raptors at Golden 1 Center.

Sacramento head coach Doug Christie sat down with our very own Carmichael Dave and Jason Ross to discuss his thoughts on where things currently stand heading into his first training camp in his new role, share his defensive mindset for the upcoming season, and much more.

Read More:

Doug Christie says new role as Kings head coach ‘feels like a dream’

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season

Preseason

Wednesday, October 8th vs. Toronto Raptors – 7 PM PT
Friday, October 10th @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7 PM PT
Wednesday, October 15th vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7 PM PT
Friday, October 17th @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7 PM PT

Regular Season

Wednesday, October 22nd – @ Phoenix Suns – 7 PM PT
Friday, October 24th – vs. Utah Jazz – 7 PM PT
Sunday, October 26th – vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 6 PM PT
Tuesday, October 28th – @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 5 PM PT
Wednesday, October 29th – @ Chicago Bulls – 5 PM PT

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