Charlotte Hornets rookie Malik Monk entered the NBA this season after being the 11th overall draft pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He spent his college career in Kentucky, where Monk was rated as one of the most talented prospects in the NBA Draft after averaging a very solid 19.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 45 percent shooting from the field during the 2016-17 college campaign.
Although Malik Monk is a very talented player, he stays humble and still looks to today’s NBA stars for tips on how to become a better basketball player. He talked about the way he still idolizes King James, and what his expectations are for going up against him.
A report by blog Larry Brown Sports presented a lot of the information and quotes below.
LeBron has been elite for a long time
When Malik Monk was just four years old, LeBron James was lacing up his kicks for his debut game against the Sacramento Kings, a game in which he finished with 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and four steals. As Monk reached his teen years and started to become a huge fan of the NBA, LeBron James was taking his talents to the Miami Heat, proceeding to win two titles in a row. While this was all happening, the Hornets rookie was in high school idolizing the King’s greatness when he wasn’t in class. And now Monk has achieved his dream and has been drafted into the NBA, and at 19 years old, Monk is surprised with something.
The King is still the King, all these years later. Monk talked about it, saying that it's “so weird, he was in his prime when I was growing up watching him and he’s still in his prime now. So it’s crazy.”
Back when Malik Monk was learning how to tie his shoe laces, LeBron James was dropping 50+ point performances and triple-doubles.
And all this time later, Malik is a grown man, and the man known as “the chosen one” is still dropping 50+ point performances and triple-doubles. He was asked if there is anything Monk can take from LeBron, he said: “I try to learn from him, and just go out there and compete.”
LeBron is a freak of nature
It is rare, in fact, unheard of, that a player can play over 50,000 minutes in the NBA, after 15 long seasons and still be in their prime putting up career high numbers in their 15th season.
But that is exactly what King James is doing. LeBron James is averaging career highs in assists per game, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and two-point field goal percentage this season coming off last season when he averaged career highs in rebounds and assists. Many thought LeBron James was slowing down in recent years, but he has completely dismissed any notion of that with his performances to open the 2017-18 campaign. The King is looking to become the first player in NBA history to win the MVP award in their 15th season or later.
