Malik Monk

Malik Monk is an American professional basketball player currently playing as a shooting guard for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. Born on February 4, 1998, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, he is the son of Jacaynlene Monk and Michael Scales. Malik grew up alongside his brother Marcus Monk, who is also a basketball player.

Early Life and Education

Malik attended East Poinsett County High School in Lepanto, Arkansas, before transferring to Bentonville High School in Bentonville, Arkansas. After completing his high school education at Bentonville, he opted to attend the University of Kentucky, despite his family’s suggestion to study at the University of Arkansas.

High School Career

From a young age, Malik had a passion for basketball and dreamed of playing professionally. As a freshman, he averaged 22.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, leading his team to a 25-8 record and an appearance in the Class 2A state championship game. By his junior year, he was averaging 26.6 points per game.

Malik also played for the Arkansas Wings Elite, an AAU team, on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball Circuit in 2015, where he averaged 19.7 points per game. That year, he earned MVP honors at the Nike Global Challenge, where he averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists while playing for the East team.

College Career

In November 2015, Malik committed to the University of Kentucky over the University of Arkansas. In his senior year, he averaged 28.6 points, 4.4 assists, and 7.6 rebounds per game. Malik also played in the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic, earning Co-MVP honors alongside his Kentucky teammate De’Aaron Fox.

During his freshman year at Kentucky, Malik set a school record for most points in a game by a freshman, scoring 47 points against the University of North Carolina on December 17, 2016. He also scored 34 points in a game against Ole Miss, leading his team to a 99-76 victory.

NBA Career

Malik was selected 11th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He signed his rookie contract with the team on July 2, 2017, worth $15,726,047. During his rookie season, Malik briefly played for the Hornets’ NBA G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, where he scored 25 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists in his only game with them on December 26, 2017.

Controversies

On February 26, 2020, Malik was suspended indefinitely for violating the NBA’s substance use policy. He was reinstated on June 8, 2020, after complying with the NBA’s anti-drug program.

Personal Life

Malik Monk is currently single, though he was previously in a relationship with model Ashley Taylor. He is known to keep his personal life private, preferring not to share many details with the public. Malik has a verified Instagram account (@ahmad_monk) with over 393k followers and a verified Twitter account (@AhmadMonk) with over 105k followers.

Net Worth

Malik Monk’s net worth is estimated to be around $9 million. He signed a 4-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets worth $15,726,047, with an annual salary averaging $3,931,512. During the 2020-21 season, he earned a base salary of $5,345,687.

Trivia

• Malik was a consensus 5-star recruit and ranked as the number 1 shooting guard in the 2016 high school class.
• He was named SEC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in his first season at Kentucky, earning first-team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman team honors.
• Malik missed the entire 2017 NBA Summer League due to an ankle injury.
• On February 1, 2021, he scored a career-high 36 points in an overtime win against the Miami Heat, with a 129-121 scoreline.
• In his final high school game on March 11, 2016, Malik scored 19 points in a 59-49 loss in the 7A state championship against Cabot High School.