I didn't rephrase my original question, but did mention in a later response, that I meant at the same stage. Coming into college
BJ Boston vs Malik Monk
- Thread starter CH53USMC
- Start date
No clue how Malik Monk is underrated on this board as a scorer but somehow he is .
I still don’t get how anyone who has watched him came to the conclusion that he was a catch and shoot guy that couldn’t create his own shot .
He was like JR Smith in the fact that he could take and make any difficult contested shot .
I still don’t get how anyone who has watched him came to the conclusion that he was a catch and shoot guy that couldn’t create his own shot .
He was like JR Smith in the fact that he could take and make any difficult contested shot .
Monk averaged 22.5 points his freshman year of high school. Dude has been filling up since he stepped on a court. Like I said in the post above, you can't really compare the two guys. Totally different skill set. He is definitely not underrated, he was as lethal of a scorer as we have had. He and Murray straight got buckets. Monk could create his own shot, now he was not keen to take it to the rack, he liked to avoid contact, but that pull up off the dribble was splash. he really elevated on his jump shot.
Pure scorers :
Delk
Monk
Meeks
Murray
Murray has transformed into more of a complete player since being in the NBA. I knew he would be good, but did not think he would be a guy who drove it, and finish thru contact. Something Monk has got to add to his game if he truly wants to reach his ceiling. Scary part is, I do not think Murray has reached his. That will be the difference in Monk being a rotational / role player v/s being a solid contributor in the starting 5. He falls in love with the jump shot way too much, and if he is off on any given night, you can pretty much play someone else because he is not going to give you anything other than scoring. He has to really evolve and become a better all around / complete player. Does he want to put in the work to do it ?
Pure scorers :
Delk
Monk
Meeks
Murray
Murray has transformed into more of a complete player since being in the NBA. I knew he would be good, but did not think he would be a guy who drove it, and finish thru contact. Something Monk has got to add to his game if he truly wants to reach his ceiling. Scary part is, I do not think Murray has reached his. That will be the difference in Monk being a rotational / role player v/s being a solid contributor in the starting 5. He falls in love with the jump shot way too much, and if he is off on any given night, you can pretty much play someone else because he is not going to give you anything other than scoring. He has to really evolve and become a better all around / complete player. Does he want to put in the work to do it ?
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It will be hard to top Monk as a scorer. He’s been the best pure scorer we’ve had in the Calipari era.
his defense wasn’t great but by the end of the season he was adequate on that end imo.
he absolutely carried us in a few games as well. Especially when Fox missed a few mid season.
That said I think there’s a case he was/is a little one dimensional. So I could see Boston being the better player.
I doubt he shoots the ball like monk, handles it like Monk, or has the array of moves to get his shot that monk had. However, at 6’7 Boston is going to be able to put pressure on teams on both sides of the ball in ways Monk couldn’t.
his defense wasn’t great but by the end of the season he was adequate on that end imo.
he absolutely carried us in a few games as well. Especially when Fox missed a few mid season.
That said I think there’s a case he was/is a little one dimensional. So I could see Boston being the better player.
I doubt he shoots the ball like monk, handles it like Monk, or has the array of moves to get his shot that monk had. However, at 6’7 Boston is going to be able to put pressure on teams on both sides of the ball in ways Monk couldn’t.
Boston has a more consistent stroke and longer range. Also due to positional size he will be more effective in certain elements.
as far as pure athleticism and entertainment value, Monk is def at top of the list and will be hard to top.
Honestly could see Clarke doing more of this. Clarke is a streaky shooter who is acrobatic around the rim. When he gets hot, he will dazzle.
Think Boston will “just” cold bloodedly get buckets and easily avg 15 a game. Def could see him get hot from 3 and go for 25-30 though. Ya never know...
as far as pure athleticism and entertainment value, Monk is def at top of the list and will be hard to top.
Honestly could see Clarke doing more of this. Clarke is a streaky shooter who is acrobatic around the rim. When he gets hot, he will dazzle.
Think Boston will “just” cold bloodedly get buckets and easily avg 15 a game. Def could see him get hot from 3 and go for 25-30 though. Ya never know...
Seriously. It’s just a hypothetical question meant to spark debate in the name of general boredom. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out one is in the NBA and one hasn’t even made it to campus yet and it can be assumed that the OP knew that when posing the question.
But, I’ve got to go with Monk. Boston will be forced to share a lot more with all the talent surrounding him. He will have much higher assist and rebound totals , and I’m sure he will have some explosive scoring games, but Monk could straight catch fire. He was so much fun to watch and if Boston can even come close to Monks scoring prowess this team is going to be incredibly tough to defend.
Respect.
it’s a tough question too bc of he states it, but for me I am biased- admittedly- to seeing Monk thus far in the NBA, I see his path and tale Boston immediately. But thats not exactly what was asked. His length and Clark will more him more consistent than Monk, imo. From there I like Boston’s dynamic skillset. Plus, Monk was a poor defender and rebounder. I think Boston has Monk covered in the all-around game. Boston is a triple double type thAt can drop a big number, who had some insane game. Monk was never a triple double threat. 6’7 v 6’4
Handles like Monk ? Boston has 5 times the handle Monk has. That is his strength. You may need to sit this one out, if you think Monk has better handles than Boston. Worst take for days.
Also, Boston has a lot more ways of scoring. Monk was a jump shooter, dunk on the break. That is it. Boston is a three level scoring and his ability to handle the ball (lol still can't get over Monk being better) allows him to get any shot he wants, whether it be a shake and pull up J, jab step and step back 3, or dribble thru traffic and drive or the little mid range pull up. He is deadly with the ball. All Monk was doing was a two or three dribbles and pull up for jumper.
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it was a lot more than his height on his jumper. He knew timing. He knew how to read his defenders. He knew when they were going to go for the fake and when they weren’t. And they had to respect his drive because he was also one of the best finishers in college in his year as well(though he obviously leaned much more on his jumper despite Cal encouraging him to attack the rim more)
And yes monks ball skills were pretty advanced. Go back and just look at his highlights and some of the plays he made when he actually attacked the rim. Some of the plays he made in the open court. His jumper and ability to get to his spots(and I do agree a lot of that was one, two dribble pull ups but that’s still a lot more than just being a spot up shooter) was the best part of his game however and most college teams couldn’t stop it so he didn’t need to force the issue going to the rim like Cal demands so many of his guards to do.
I won’t reply to you again btw. You don’t respect my opinion and I don’t respect yours so don’t bother. I’m pretty sure I’ve argued with you over this before and posted stats that disproved most of what you said and you kept coming back and being disrespectful. Seems you got something against monk tbh.
Also Boston improved a lot of aspects of his game at Sierra canyon this year. But I haven’t seen the numbers on his jump shooting yet. During the EYBL and nbpa last summer he only shot 24% from deep.
Has anyone seen the percentages for his high school season to be able to say definitively he’s a better more consistent jump shooter than monk at the same point?
Has anyone seen the percentages for his high school season to be able to say definitively he’s a better more consistent jump shooter than monk at the same point?
I don't think Monk is the clear cut best scorer that Cal has had here. Monk and Murray are neck and neck imo. You can make good arguments for both.
I love how well Boston can handle the ball. I think Monk was an average+ ball handler. I would be curious to know some 3Pt% stats on Boston as well. I've watched countless videos on him, and his stroke is pure, but I saw a recent video where he was struggling a bit (I think it was the one with Clarke) and the vast majority of highlight videos only show makes.
I love how well Boston can handle the ball. I think Monk was an average+ ball handler. I would be curious to know some 3Pt% stats on Boston as well. I've watched countless videos on him, and his stroke is pure, but I saw a recent video where he was struggling a bit (I think it was the one with Clarke) and the vast majority of highlight videos only show makes.
Boston is a much better overall player but Monk could have insane scoring games. The problem for Monk was that is all he is good for. BJ can pass , drive , dribble , defend , post up and so on.
In a one game scenario and I need a player to score 50 I go with Monk . In all other scenarios I go with Boston.
Sorry you took my post as being "disrespectful". I simply LOL'd at the "Monk is a better ball handler than Boston. I guess text / type messages can be misunderstood, sometimes ribbing / poking fun at someone can be taken as disrespectful or maybe the poster has thin skin, either way, I did not call you names or cuss at you, definitely did not disrespect you. I loved watching Monk play, nothing against him at all. I simply said he settled for his jumper way too much and did not like contact. Those are not disputable facts. Another example is he was not a good rebounder for the athletic ability he has. Why ? He simply does not like contact, is a offensive player, lethal scorer, but does not posses an all around game. Simply stating facts does not mean you have something against someone, it means you are honest in your evaluation of them. I do not recall you and I ever arguing, now I have had debates with others, and there is a difference in debating and arguing, I have argued with quite a few, debated with too many to count.
This pretty much backs my point. And the writer / scout has nothing against Monk, he said he was a great scorer, like I did.
Mike Schmitz - Draft Express
Among the most efficient scorers in power conference hoops for much of the regular season, Kentucky shooting guard Malik Monk was nothing short of outstanding as a freshman. Even as he struggled to make his presence felt quite as frequently late in the season, he still flashed the ability to heat up in an instant and put points on the board in bunches. The clear-cut first option on a Kentucky team that finished as the nation's 12th ranked offense according to KenPom, Monk was critical to the Wildcats' run to the Elite Eight and earned All-SEC First Team honors, scoring 19.8 points per game, showing his strengths and weaknesses as a pro prospect vividly in the process. Monk's intrigue at the next level starts with his tremendous athletic ability, even if he is a tad undersized for a shooting guard at the NBA level at 6'3 in shoes, with just a 6'4 wingspan. A freakishly explosive leaper capable of finishing emphatically above the rim, registering a 42-inch vertical leap at Kentucky's preseason combine, the Bentonville, Arkansas native also possesses the strong first step and quickness to potentially grow into a dynamic shot creator off the dribble, even if that wasn't his identity at the college level. Possessing a lean, but promising 200-pound frame, Monk lacks a degree of height and length, but makes up for that in other ways. Here's a closer look at the strengths Monk displayed throughout his time at Kentucky: Aside from his explosiveness, it is Monk's prowess as a jump shooter that remains his most appealing trait as an NBA prospect. Making considerable strides with his consistency in the summer and fall leading into his freshman year, Monk made his mark this season primarily with his ability to get and stay hot from the perimeter, in addition to using his athleticism to get out in transition. With some 45% of his possessions coming on spot-ups and off screens and another 30% coming in Transition, Monk did much of his damage off of quick actions, finding daylight in the half court, or around the rim on the break, playing almost exclusively off the ball most nights. Making 40% of his 3-point attempts over 8.1 attempts per-40 minutes pace adjusted last season, Monk ranked among the most prolific shooters in this draft class, and mostly played to his strengths, with some 80% of his shot attempts coming away from the rim in the half court, according to Synergy Sports Technology. Shooting the ball with great elevation, to go along with very nice touch, Monk hunted set shots relocating well off the ball, and showed no shortage of confidence, taking and making many deep, contested threes. Exploding for a Kentucky freshman record 47 points in what was arguably the top individual performance of any player all year, in a non-conference win over eventual National Champions North Carolina, Monk scored in bunches on his best nights, raining shot after shot from the perimeter in spectacular fashion. More than just a set shooter, with 50% of his shot attempts in the half court coming off the bounce, Monk was also exceptionally effective using quick dribbles to create space. Using fakes and low rip-throughs, Monk showed a knack for making one quick move and getting to his spots in the midrange. Making 43% of his dribble jump shots in the half court, Monk's strong first step and explosiveness elevating to score off the bounce made him a difficult player to close out effectively a year ago, even if his shot selection sometimes left something to be desired. The challenge for Monk moving forward will be honing his explosiveness into legitimate NBA-caliber shot creating ability. With just 10% of his possessions coming in pick and roll or isolation situations last year, Monk was seldom asked to create for himself off the dribble alongside De'Aaron Fox and Isaiah Briscoe, and found mixed results when he was. Shooting 49% inside the paint in the half court, Monk wasn't adept at using his tools to create high percentage shots around the rim. Lacking a degree of physicality inside to absorb contact inside and settling for some tough off balance shots in close, Monk did draw fouls at a solid rate, and shot 82% from the line, but has a lot of room to grow as a slasher and shot-creator. Here's a closer look at the weaknesses Monk displayed throughout his time at Kentucky: Though he has great burst to blow by defenders when they're forced to close him out, and a consistent pull-up jump shot, Monk was fairly quiet some nights when opposing defenses worked to take away his spot up opportunities. As he transitions to the next level, his ability to become a more dynamic ball handler, learn how to manipulate defenses, hone his developing passing ability, and become more of a combo guard will be a key step in his development. Monk flashed some nice court vision at points this season, particularly driving and dishing using his quickness or feeding Bam Adebayo with lobs out of the pick and roll, but his mentality as a lead guard remains a point of interest. Some players with the same reliance on difficult shots with shoot-first mentalities have an easier time flipping the switch and making sounder decisions with the ball off the bounce than others. The 19-year-old standout has the tools and game to be an elite role-player alongside a ball dominant guard, but the team drafting him in the top ten will likely have higher aspirations for the former McDonald's All-American. Defensively, Monk has solid lateral quickness, but some things to clean up to help make up for his lack of great size, strength and length. Playing with wavering intensity and improvable discipline, Monk is capable of applying ball pressure and held his own for the most part this season, but makes some mistakes allowing slower players to get to spots against him off the bounce, isn't very disruptive, and offers little value on the glass. His ability to get stronger and stay dialed in will be key to his ability to guard both guard spots, as he seems better suited to defend the point guard spot given his physical tools. Among the most productive freshman in the country, Monk stood out among an elite group of one-and-done players for much of the year, having a number of brilliant moments for John Calipari's Wildcats. Growing a bit more enigmatic late in the year, Monk would disappear for stretches before knocking down a few shots, seeming content to let the game come to him at times. While there is no questioning Monk's talent, especially as a shot maker, it will be his ability to grow into a more versatile scorer and all-around player that will determine just how successful he can be at the next level. Plenty of players in his mold have transitioned into competent lead guards in time, but Monk's tremendous athletic ability seems to give him more upside than most if he can grow into an identity as a scoring point guard. - Source: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Malik-Monk-7243/ ©DraftExpress
Mike Schmitz - Draft Express
Among the most efficient scorers in power conference hoops for much of the regular season, Kentucky shooting guard Malik Monk was nothing short of outstanding as a freshman. Even as he struggled to make his presence felt quite as frequently late in the season, he still flashed the ability to heat up in an instant and put points on the board in bunches. The clear-cut first option on a Kentucky team that finished as the nation's 12th ranked offense according to KenPom, Monk was critical to the Wildcats' run to the Elite Eight and earned All-SEC First Team honors, scoring 19.8 points per game, showing his strengths and weaknesses as a pro prospect vividly in the process. Monk's intrigue at the next level starts with his tremendous athletic ability, even if he is a tad undersized for a shooting guard at the NBA level at 6'3 in shoes, with just a 6'4 wingspan. A freakishly explosive leaper capable of finishing emphatically above the rim, registering a 42-inch vertical leap at Kentucky's preseason combine, the Bentonville, Arkansas native also possesses the strong first step and quickness to potentially grow into a dynamic shot creator off the dribble, even if that wasn't his identity at the college level. Possessing a lean, but promising 200-pound frame, Monk lacks a degree of height and length, but makes up for that in other ways. Here's a closer look at the strengths Monk displayed throughout his time at Kentucky: Aside from his explosiveness, it is Monk's prowess as a jump shooter that remains his most appealing trait as an NBA prospect. Making considerable strides with his consistency in the summer and fall leading into his freshman year, Monk made his mark this season primarily with his ability to get and stay hot from the perimeter, in addition to using his athleticism to get out in transition. With some 45% of his possessions coming on spot-ups and off screens and another 30% coming in Transition, Monk did much of his damage off of quick actions, finding daylight in the half court, or around the rim on the break, playing almost exclusively off the ball most nights. Making 40% of his 3-point attempts over 8.1 attempts per-40 minutes pace adjusted last season, Monk ranked among the most prolific shooters in this draft class, and mostly played to his strengths, with some 80% of his shot attempts coming away from the rim in the half court, according to Synergy Sports Technology. Shooting the ball with great elevation, to go along with very nice touch, Monk hunted set shots relocating well off the ball, and showed no shortage of confidence, taking and making many deep, contested threes. Exploding for a Kentucky freshman record 47 points in what was arguably the top individual performance of any player all year, in a non-conference win over eventual National Champions North Carolina, Monk scored in bunches on his best nights, raining shot after shot from the perimeter in spectacular fashion. More than just a set shooter, with 50% of his shot attempts in the half court coming off the bounce, Monk was also exceptionally effective using quick dribbles to create space. Using fakes and low rip-throughs, Monk showed a knack for making one quick move and getting to his spots in the midrange. Making 43% of his dribble jump shots in the half court, Monk's strong first step and explosiveness elevating to score off the bounce made him a difficult player to close out effectively a year ago, even if his shot selection sometimes left something to be desired. The challenge for Monk moving forward will be honing his explosiveness into legitimate NBA-caliber shot creating ability. With just 10% of his possessions coming in pick and roll or isolation situations last year, Monk was seldom asked to create for himself off the dribble alongside De'Aaron Fox and Isaiah Briscoe, and found mixed results when he was. Shooting 49% inside the paint in the half court, Monk wasn't adept at using his tools to create high percentage shots around the rim. Lacking a degree of physicality inside to absorb contact inside and settling for some tough off balance shots in close, Monk did draw fouls at a solid rate, and shot 82% from the line, but has a lot of room to grow as a slasher and shot-creator. Here's a closer look at the weaknesses Monk displayed throughout his time at Kentucky: Though he has great burst to blow by defenders when they're forced to close him out, and a consistent pull-up jump shot, Monk was fairly quiet some nights when opposing defenses worked to take away his spot up opportunities. As he transitions to the next level, his ability to become a more dynamic ball handler, learn how to manipulate defenses, hone his developing passing ability, and become more of a combo guard will be a key step in his development. Monk flashed some nice court vision at points this season, particularly driving and dishing using his quickness or feeding Bam Adebayo with lobs out of the pick and roll, but his mentality as a lead guard remains a point of interest. Some players with the same reliance on difficult shots with shoot-first mentalities have an easier time flipping the switch and making sounder decisions with the ball off the bounce than others. The 19-year-old standout has the tools and game to be an elite role-player alongside a ball dominant guard, but the team drafting him in the top ten will likely have higher aspirations for the former McDonald's All-American. Defensively, Monk has solid lateral quickness, but some things to clean up to help make up for his lack of great size, strength and length. Playing with wavering intensity and improvable discipline, Monk is capable of applying ball pressure and held his own for the most part this season, but makes some mistakes allowing slower players to get to spots against him off the bounce, isn't very disruptive, and offers little value on the glass. His ability to get stronger and stay dialed in will be key to his ability to guard both guard spots, as he seems better suited to defend the point guard spot given his physical tools. Among the most productive freshman in the country, Monk stood out among an elite group of one-and-done players for much of the year, having a number of brilliant moments for John Calipari's Wildcats. Growing a bit more enigmatic late in the year, Monk would disappear for stretches before knocking down a few shots, seeming content to let the game come to him at times. While there is no questioning Monk's talent, especially as a shot maker, it will be his ability to grow into a more versatile scorer and all-around player that will determine just how successful he can be at the next level. Plenty of players in his mold have transitioned into competent lead guards in time, but Monk's tremendous athletic ability seems to give him more upside than most if he can grow into an identity as a scoring point guard. - Source: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Malik-Monk-7243/ ©DraftExpress
The typical "you don't know basketball if you don't agree with me" guys in this thread just crushing it. haha
“playing with Bronny” lol.
This kid is gonna live off of daddy’s rep forever it seems.
Seeing the “elite ball handler” comments is hilarious.
I'll stand on my take in this thread. Thanks for resurrecting it to remind me of my wisdom.
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