Malik Monk says he stayed locked in on bench by mentoring, coaching LaMelo Ball

Out of rotation, buried on the bench and stuck in his home with his own thoughts during a pandemic, Malik Monk turned to an unlikely source and role to remain focused on the game.

Coaching LaMelo Ball.

More specifically, Monk has focused on mentoring all the young players with Ball being among them. Paired with his consistent workouts on nights he didn’t see the floor, Monk was able to stay both mentally and physically ready so that when the time came, like on Wednesday, he would be ready.

With Gordon Hayward sidelined with a left hip strain, Monk saw his first extended run on the court this season. He knocked down his first three 3-pointers, played 23 minutes and added three rebounds and three assists.

It all ultimately came in a losing effort as the Hornets’ comeback in the fourth quarter fell short but Monk, it was a welcome return to the court.

“It felt great,” he said. “Man, I haven’t played an organized game in 11 months. It just felt great to be out there with the guys, man, and to see a couple of shots go in, too, as well.”

After not being in the rotation, Monk played eighth-most minutes on the night and nearly as many as Caleb Martin, who started in place of Hayward. While he had played in two games this season, both appearances came in garbage time. Add in a suspension at the end of last season and the last time Monk had played over 20 minutes in a contest was Feb. 25.

It was a long nearly 12-month break for Monk. Watching his role dwindle amid a pandemic left Monk trapped with his own thought. The solution for the fourth-year guard was to become a mentor for his teammates.

“Mentally, it’s a challenge not being able to just go somewhere to clear your mind, just leave the house,” he said. “But like I said, having LaMelo and Nick Richards, Vernon (Carey), Jalen (McDaniels), having all the younger guys younger than me helps me lock in even more and keeps me sane, keep keeps my head on straight because I’m passing knowledge…to them that I’ve learned over the years.

“After the first couple of games, I got adjusted with not playing and just being a coach and helping and being a great teammate. But it’s hard mentally. I think it’s hard for everybody mentally. But if you want to do this job that’s what you got to do.”

Ball has become one of Monk’s focuses from the bench. The 19-year-old rookie had yet another double-double on Thursday, finishing with 14 points and 11 assists off the bench. As Monk watched him navigate the early stages of his NBA career, he remembered his own rookie year and used those lessons learned to help Ball.

“That’s what is keeping me locked in, as well, helping him,” Monk said. “I know I can help him a lot because I play the guard position. And I was young doing the same thing he’s going through as well. Came to the league in 19, so I got a lot of points I can give to him still and I’m going to continue to do that daily.”

Monk’s role moving forward is unclear. As the Hornets continue ironing out their rotation in the early weeks and month of the season, Monk’s performance will be hard to overlook. Should Hayward’s absence stretch to a second game, Monk would almost be guaranteed another longer look on Saturday when the team plays the Raptors once again.

But no matter what Monk’s role on the court is moving forward, finding his role off the court has given him meaning and purpose within the team that he is comfortable continuing.

“I think it played a big part in me getting a little bit more minutes now,” Monk said of his performance on Thursday. “But if I don’t, I’m always going to be ready to go in and do what I did today. I’m just here man to help the team and do what I got to do to help the team.

“If that’s playing what I did today, I’ll do that and if it’s on a beach cheering, coaching Melo up, coaching guys up on what I see out there, I’ll do that. I’m just here for the team.”