How Malik Monk Stays Optimistic Despite Kings’ Recent Losing Streak
The Kings have lost four straight games, and their struggles have been mostly at the free throw line.
In Sacramento’s devastating 143-142 last-second overtime loss to Milwaukee this past Sunday at Fiserv Forum, Malik Monk missed two crucial free throw attempts that allowed Bucks player Damian Lillard to make an incredible game-winning jumper.
This led the Kings guard to take to social media, where he promised to improve going ahead and took responsibility for his mistakes.
Following two games in which Sacramento failed to shoot 60 percent from the free-throw line, Monk discussed how his background as a basketball player helps him to keep things in perspective during trying moments.
Monk said to reporters at Saturday’s practice,
“At one point, I was not in the NBA.” “I’ll be fine if I miss a free throw, then. It goes without saying that you have to speak up when it does. Furthermore, I detest losing more than anything since I’m a competitor.”
Monk is excited to return to the court and contribute to a turnaround when the Kings play the Atlanta Hawks at Golden 1 Center on Monday night, despite their recent losing streak.
“I feel like I contributed to one or two of those [losses] because we lost four [games in a row], so that’s essentially where I am right now,” Malik Monk told reporters. “However, we’ll be alright, and I’m fine. Next Monday is our game, which I’m excited about.”
Teammate Keegan Murray expressed a similar view regarding the Kings’ difficulties from the free-throw line during Sacramento’s 126-121 loss to the Pacers on Thursday at Golden 1 Center, elucidating why he still has faith in the team’s ability to overcome its problems.
We’re practicing shooting a lot of free throws, Murray said to reporters.
“Last year was definitely much better, in my opinion. Since we’re all professionals at the end of the day, we just need to keep working on it. We just need to get beyond this hump and we’ll be good since we’ve all shot well from the free-throw line in the past.”
Due to a recent losing streak that has lowered the Kings to the seventh place in the Western Conference playoff standings, Sacramento needs to address their free-throw difficulties.
