A new sensation was introduced in Sacramento this season and has helped power the Kings’ surprising start thus far.
No, it’s not the four purple lasers that sit atop Golden 1 Center and illuminate the Sacramento skyline after every Kings’ win.
In a similar way, though, this beam of light comes in the form of a 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard whose demeanor has brought much-needed energy back to the 916.
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Malik Monk and his iconic Band-Aid movement have been a game-changer and energy-lifter for the Kings this season and over their seven-game win streak.
That historic streak ended on Wednesday, but Monk’s impact didn’t.
Sacramento’s hopes of reaching eight consecutive wins for the first time since November 2003 were extinguished by Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks in a 115-106 loss on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena.
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It was the second game of a back-to-back for the fatigued-looking Kings. Mike Brown desperately needed someone to step up.
Queue in Monk, who pumped life back into a lethargic Kings squad. The 24-year-old finished with a team-high and season-high 27 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the field and 3-of-7 from 3-point range.
But the energy shift he brought on Wednesday and has continued to bring night in and night out for the Kings goes beyond a stat sheet.
Monk sat out the first 8:48 of the game and was subbed in with a little over three minutes remaining in the first quarter. His impact was almost immediate.
He knocked down some jumpers and took flight not once, but twice in the ATL with two explosive dunks within a 21-second span.
Monk had 15 first-half points on 7-of-9 shooting and two assists. Kings star guard De’Aaron Fox had two points after two quarters.
It’s not a diss at Fox by any means. Fox is playing the best basketball of his career and leading in ways other than just scoring. He’s been doing his part this season and it was time for someone else to step up.
The Kings couldn't pull out the dub in Atlanta, but there's no doubt the loss would have been much uglier without Monk. Just like the Band-Aid on his face, he was the adhesive for his team in this game trying to hold it together.
"We had a back-to-back, tough game yesterday," Monk told reporters after the loss on Wednesday. "And that means we need to have extreme focus because we know we're going to be a little tired. we just came out too easy in the first half. it's hard to win when you give up 72 points in the first half."
When the Kings signed Monk in free agency this summer, the big question was whether he’d be able to bring the same spark to Sacramento that he showed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
It hasn’t taken him long to respond to those concerns.
Yes, he can. And more.
Monk has been with the Kings for 17 games and already has made a major impact in Sactown. From his vitality and talents on the court to the epic Band-Aid movement, Monk has become a quick fan favorite in Sacramento.
Originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets where he spent the first four seasons of his NBA career, Monk was unable to live up to the hype. After one season with LeBron James and the Lakers, he found a new home in Sacramento with a former teammate and forever friend.
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Fox and Monk both played at Kentucky during the 2016-17 NCAA season and led the Wildcats to 32 wins and an Elite Eight appearance in the 2017 NCAA tournament. And over five years later, it's like nothing has changed as Monk has been able to ignite a flame with his former Kentucky teammate in Sacramento.
With new additions Monk and Kevin Huerter, Brown had an important decision to make before the start of the season on who was going to get the starting two-guard role. Ultimately, Huerter earned the spot and has proven exactly why with his lights-out shooting.
But Monk coming off the bench didn't discourage the young guard. Of course, he would like to start, but the current rotation seems to be working just fine for the Kings as Monk provides an energizing boost off the bench in the second unit. Brown confessed that he has thought about starting him, but just loves his "punch" off the bench.
While he's been fun to watch this season, he's had equally as much fun playing the game that he loves.
That fun and energetic personality is one of the reasons, Brown says, he's been able to lift this team up.
"He brings a lot of joy to this team. He's always laughing and joking," Brown said last week. "He's a guy that always keeps everybody connected and engaged just because he wants to have fun, not just for himself but for everybody else. That stuff is contagious. Especially when you're going through some rocky times."
Rocky times. Sixteen-year playoff drought. It's inescapably on Monk's mind.
He admitted that before the season, the Kings' 16-year playoff drought is all he kept hearing about. But a surprising start to this season has fans, Monk and the Kings excited and ready to give the NBA world something else to talk about.
The Kings' victory beam, and Monk, are doing a good job of doing that so far.