The regular season is finally over for the Sacramento Kings, but their campaign isn't over yet. Although the Kings have lost three of their last four games, they currently sit as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference and are well positioned to qualify for the play-in tournament.
For head coach Mike Brown, with a season that started better than it ended, there's a lot to learn and use heading into his first championship game. Brown, who has a “swing for the fences” mentality, said he is “excited for the opportunity to play” despite not being satisfied with the team's standing after 82 games.
The season looked promising heading into the All-Star break, but an unfortunate injury hit the Kings, forcing the team to find a new identity. With the loss of guards Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk, Mike Brown was given the difficult task of replacing the two players who made Sacramento's offensive machine tick.
Monk's presence has yet to be replaced by any member of the roster, so it's safe to say his impact is greater than any other sixth man in the league. Former NBA champion and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins agreed, saying Monk has a vote for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award for the 2023-24 season.
Since Monk injured his lower leg in late March, the Kings have had a losing streak and have had zero wins against teams with a winning record. Putting together his best season in the Association, Monk averaged 15.4 points and 5.1 assists per game, both career highs for the former Kentucky Wildcat.
Among the nominees for this year's 6MOY award is Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid, a mainstay in the Timberwolves' rotation. Despite starting 14 games for the team this year, Reed is still a candidate for the 6MOY award and is one of the favorites to win it after Monk's injury.
The winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award will be announced on April 20th after the league tallies votes from analysts across the country.
Follow Inside the Kings Facebook and twitter.
Ssubscribe YouTube Enjoy the latest Kings news videos and live stream podcasts.
