LeBron James Heaps Praise on Young Teammate Amid Lakers’ Struggles

LeBron James has nothing but praise for talented players even when he talks about a young teammate. LeBron has this incredible ability to recognize great players. Malik Monk is definitely one of them.

Monk is averaging 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while going 46.4 percent from the field, 39.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 76.7% from the free-throw line. These may not be the best stats, but LeBron appreciates Monk’s effort.

“He brings a knockout punch that — to be completely honest with you — we haven’t had on our roster since I got here,” the four-time NBA champion told Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “Someone that can literally, if he makes one, it can be two, three, four, five in a row.”

LeBron James pours praise over his young teammate for a reason

LeBron said his eyes on Monk long before the Lakers got him. He and Jason Kidd talked about the talented player all the time.

“Me and J-Kidd were talking all the time like, ‘Is there a way we can snatch this guy from [Charlotte’s] roster?’” LeBron told McMenamin.

The Lakers front office tried to get Monk and general manager Rob Pelinka did a really great effort to get him. Signing Monk was a really good deal for the purple and gold.

“I remember when UCLA played Kentucky. We were looking at Lonzo and De’Aaron Fox. [But] Malik has just been really a standout [since then] because of the combination of his athleticism and his shooting,” Pelinka told McMenamin. “So, definitely a player we’ve tracked for some time — and early in the free-agency process, [we] reached out.”

Monk joined the Lakers at the right time. Pelinka snatched a good player.

“The partnership has been a win from both sides,” Pelinka said of Monk. “Both for the Lakers, in terms of the productivity he’s had for us and then I think on his side, just showing people what he can do in big moments in big games. … He’s a guy that we would see as hopefully a part of our future.”

Will Monk stay around for longer? He deserves a spot on the roster.