Wearing the Purple and Gold is unlike any other experience in the NBA. Sometimes, the glitz and glamour of the league’s most prestigious franchise are just too much to pass up.
For young sharpshooter Malik Monk, he got to experience the life of being a Laker first-hand this past season, and now he is ready to do whatever it takes to stick around.
In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, Monk explained his intentions this summer and revealed just how much he is willing to sacrifice in order to keep his name on the roster for years to come.
“They might not be able to pay me as much as I want,” Monk said. “But I could be here and be way more comfortable as a Laker than going to any other team, and they’re paying me $5 million more. So it’s just me trying to figure out what team would really want me.”
Monk signed a 1-year, $1.8 million contract last year and is set to become an unrestricted free agent next month. While he is sure to secure a much larger deal, his future with the Lakers is not a guarantee.
“He loved it here,” said Marcus Monk, Malik’s brother, and agent. “He wants to be a Laker. But you can’t have conversations with the Lakers at this point in time because he’s unrestricted. So once those conversations start happening, hopefully, they see it the same. … We’re very loyal people. We’re very thankful for the opportunity that this organization gave him. And we don’t take those things lightly.”
The former Kentucky standout was drafted 11th overall in the 2017 draft. He joined a Hornets team that had no clear vision for the future, and he eventually faded into obscurity as he fell further and further out of the rotation.
It wasn’t until the 2021-22 campaign that the Lakers showed up to give him a real chance, and he made the most of it. He averaged a career-high 13.8 points per game on 47% shooting.
It’s hard to say where Monk will land next, but there will be no shortage of suitors for his services this offseason.
