Monk and Fox are on a bunch chat with a few different former teammates at Kentucky, Monk mentioned, they usually message each other on a regular basis. Monk roots for Fox — “I inform him, ‘Preserve killing, Fox,’ ” Monk mentioned — however he can not assist noting the chance that Fox has gotten, and the way a lot he has product of it.
“In the event you get down on your self, that’s going to mess all the pieces up,” Monk mentioned. “So I simply attempt to keep constructive. It’s important to be affected person, man. Endurance.”
Borrego benched Monk for 2 video games final month — the coach was pissed off with the workforce’s protection — however mentioned on Tuesday that he was happy with Monk’s progress.
“He’s simply received to be extra constant on the defensive finish,” Borrego mentioned, “and we’re seeing that development.”
Monk’s minutes, although, have been sporadic — a lot as they had been final season below Steve Clifford, who now coaches the Orlando Magic — and he mentioned he was studying to adapt. Everybody desires to begin, he mentioned, however perhaps he was meant to return off the bench and turn into an elite scorer like Lou Williams or Jamal Crawford, two gamers who’ve turned their reserve roles into artwork kinds. Or perhaps, Monk mentioned, his profession will take a special flip.
“There are at all times groups watching,” Monk mentioned. “So, I imply, if this isn’t your spot, it is perhaps some place else, and there’s at all times someone watching — and it’s most likely someone that likes you. So that you’ve received to go on the market and do stuff for you and in your workforce. In the event you do each of these issues collectively, you’ll be all proper.”
Requested if he was glad in Charlotte, Monk mentioned: “I’m taking part in basketball. So, yeah, I’m studying, and I’m watching one of the best each evening. In the event you’re not glad doing this, I don’t know why you got here to the N.B.A. So me taking part in or not, I’m nonetheless going to study, I’m nonetheless going to smile, and I’m nonetheless going to be who I’m. So I’m glad I’m on this state of affairs.”