DeAaron Fox-Malik Monk partnership powers Kings: They cant stop both of us

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk have played over 100 games together dating back to their freshman year at Kentucky. By now, it’s evident they know each other’s tendencies. Saturday’s 123-117 win over the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets was just the latest installment of the Fox and Monk show.

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The two finished tied for a team-high 26 points, while Fox dished out a career-high 16 assists with just one turnover. Eight of those went to Monk. In total, the duo combined for 52 points, 20 assists, seven rebounds, five steals and a block. Saturday marked the fourth-straight game in which Fox and Monk combined for at least 50 points.

Through 18 games, Monk is averaging 14.4 points and 4.6 assists on 41.3 percent shooting from 3-point range, while taking 6.1 3-point attempts per game — which would all be career highs. Fox is averaging 30.3 points, 6.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals on 37 percent from behind the arc on 8.3 attempts through 13 games. His points, rebounds, 3-point percentage and 3-point attempts would all be career highs.

“They can’t stop both of us.” Monk said during his postgame news conference. “That’s all it is, man. They can’t stop both of us when we’re out there. It’s just pick your poison. Sometimes I’m on, sometimes he’s on. Well, most of the time, he’s on.”

Monk and Fox accounted for 21 of the team’s 35 fourth-quarter points. There’s an obvious sense of joy and synergy the two play with that seemingly rubs off on the rest of their teammates. Why wouldn’t there be? Imagine the feeling of playing the game you love on the biggest possible stage with someone you’ve been close friends with since you were teenagers.

MALIK MONK HUGE THREE 😤 pic.twitter.com/r7S4060nuz

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) December 3, 2023

“It’s dope, man,” Fox said postgame. “Just being able to do it on the highest level. Playing against each other from middle school and high school, playing on the same team in college. And then being able to come back together in the NBA and actually have success, it’s fun.

“Being able to be around each other every day, whether it’s at home or on the road, you enjoy it. You really do enjoy it.”

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That success also has led to a greater sense of freedom for Fox, which was on display late in Saturday’s game.

In the fourth quarter, after the Nuggets had cut their deficit to three points, Kings coach Mike Brown called a play for Monk that resulted in a floater off the glass. He called the same play on the Kings’ very next possession, but Fox decided to call an audible and went in a different direction.

'Lik lands the floater off glass 🤌
@AhmadMonk | #100YearsOfRoyalty pic.twitter.com/3VN8WujiuI

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 3, 2023

“It’s basically the same play we ran play after play after play at Minnesota,” Brown said postgame. “He called that play, and we ended up scoring. I told him after the game, ‘I’ve been here a little over a year and the best offensive play call I made in my entire career as a Sacramento Kings head coach was tonight.’

“He kind of looked at me. I said, ‘Do you even know which play it was?’ He said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘Well I called this particular play and you called me off and you ran the play that you wanted to run. You called your number. That’s what you’re supposed to do. That’s what MVP candidates do against the reigning NBA champions.’”

All of Golden 1 Center agreed with Brown’s assessment of Fox, as they showered him with loud “MVP!” chants as he took his final two free throws of the evening.

JaVale McGee — who tallied eight points, four rebounds, three blocks and was a perfect 4-for-4 shooting in 12 minutes — was crowned the Defensive Player of the Game and spoke to the level Fox is playing at right now.

“It’s amazing,” McGee said during his postgame interview with the NBC Sports crew. “Just watching him, the pace that he works at, the energy that he has, and the focus that he goes out there with. It’s truly amazing. It’s an honor (to play with him).”

“We’ve got some real dogs in there and we’re barely holding onto the leash.”

Perfectly said, JaVale 🤣 pic.twitter.com/4OUVZhbzbk

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) December 3, 2023

What Fox and Monk are doing isn’t surprising anyone internally. Especially not Brown.

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“Both those guys can go get it off the dribble for themselves, and they do a good job of spraying the basketball or finding the open guy,” Brown said. “They’ve played together for so long that you could tell from day one they were just in sync with one another.”

Fox even referred to his running mate as “almost a sixth starter.” Though Monk has yet to start a game in a Kings uniform, he’s easily one of the fan favorites on the team and is very much aware of the love and support he receives.

“Every time I come in the game, it’s like they’re calling me out for the starting unit,” Monk said. “That’s just another reason why I come out here and play so hard, because I’ve got the fans behind me. Shoot, I’ve got all of Sacramento behind me, man. It’s crazy in here.”

Malik always brings the energy and feeds off the love he receives from the fans ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/KaTo2wbF1P

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) December 3, 2023

Fox and Monk will run it back against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday from Golden 1 Center. This will be the third matchup between the two teams, and the winner will punch a ticket to Las Vegas for the semifinals of the inaugural In-Season Tournament.

(Photo: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)

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