Skip to content

Hornets' Monk sure he was going to Knicks on draft night

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

Malik Monk received quite the surprise during this year's draft in Brooklyn, New York.

After meeting with the Knicks prior to June's draft, the rookie guard fully expected to be chosen by New York with the No. 8 overall pick given his fit in then-president Phil Jackson's triangle offense.

"Me, my agent, everybody in my agency, my family - we thought we were going to New York," Monk told Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. "It was here, my agent is here (based in New York), a great agent, everybody thought it was going to be here. Went to dinner with (Jackson), had a great workout, everything was positive.

"They told me I was a shooter, a great shooter," he added. "They were just really trying to tell me to learn how to work off the triangle. They were trying to teach me concepts about the triangle."

However, New York opted to draft Frank Ntilikina with the No. 8 selection instead, clearing the way for the Charlotte Hornets to choose Monk three picks later.

The 19-year-old is coming off a terrific freshman campaign with Kentucky, averaging 19.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists on 39.7 percent shooting.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox