Kings Provide NBA 2024-25 Season Injury Updates for Malik Monk, Devin Carter, and Orlando Robinson

While their record doesn’t necessarily reflect it, the Kings have a solid squad this year. Their bench is playing well, as are their strong all-stars and well-rounded role players. Even so, they cannot seem to stay ahead of their injuries.

(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sacramento has had several setbacks so far, including De’Aaron Fox’s recent finger ligament issue, and they continue to pile up. The latest is related to Malik Monk, who didn’t play against San Antonio during their game on Monday after spraining his ankle against Phoenix on Sunday.

The team revealed the moderate diagnosis following the shooting guard’s absence. Though there is no set timeframe for the injury, the Kings plan to reevaluate Monk in two week’s time. As such, he’s set to miss quite a few games during that stretch.

Losing a Key Piece

The diagnosis is bad news for the Kings, who are still trying to find their footing. The Western Conference is proving to be quite the battleground, and Sacramento is going to need all hands on deck if they want to stay competitive as the NBA moves to the in-season tournament.

Losing any piece can hurt a team, but that goes double when that piece is one of the team’s best role players.

Monk is averaging:

1. 12.6 points
2. 3 rebounds
3. 2.8 assists

this year, showing his 15.4/2.9/5.1 statline last season was no fluke.

His ability to score off the ball and strong defense are two aspects the team will need later on in the season, which is why they’re being so careful with the initial diagnosis. Ankle injuries typically aren’t too bad, but they can get worse without the proper treatment.

Consistent Monitoring Moving Forward

While he hasn’t suffered any huge injuries throughout his career, Monk has been hurt several times during his time in the NBA. That alone has the Kings pausing when it comes to getting him back onto the court.

Though fans will ultimately be disappointed at him being out for an extended period of time, it’s a smart move by the Kings, who need to do what they can to make sure they’re ready for a mid-season push. It’s better to lose a game every once in a while rather than trying to rush him back quickly and losing him for an extended period of time.

That goes double because early x-rays revealed no structural damage to Monk’s ankle. That’s a good sign.

Such injuries typically heal in a few weeks and don’t require any serious procedures like surgery. It’s all about pain management, rest, and icing for pain management.

Monk played 72 games last season, which earned him an impressive $78 million dollar contract during the offseason and shows that he should be able to recover without issue. In the meantime, the team will have to dig deep and rely on their bench more than ever before.

A Few Months is the Timeline for Devin Carter

Monk is one of the Kings’ best bench players, but he’s not the only one on their roster battling injuries. The team also gave an update on first round pick Devin Carter, who they expect big things from once he gets healthy and back to his high-flying form.

The franchise confirmed that Carter successfully completed his four-month follow-up after his shoulder surgery earlier this summer. Things have gone well since the initial problem, and he’s been cleared for unrestricted shooting. Unfortunately, that’s one step on a long journey.

Even with the good news, the team doesn’t expect to have another update until January at the earliest. That means Kings fans shouldn’t expect to have him back during the first half of the season in any meaningful way.

The Kings gave Carter a six-month recovery time table following the surgery, and they appear to be on track for that. There is a chance for him to come back at the end of January or during February, but those are longshots. March or April seems much more likely, given that everything progresses as predicted.

Orlando Robinson Cleared for Contact

In addition to their young guard, the Kings also reported that big man Orlando Robinson has been cleared for contact. That’s good news for the center, who hasn’t played since suffering a sprain to his left MCL in training camp on October third.

The injury isn’t expected to be long term, nor is it believed that Robinson will be sidelined for too much longer. The Kings report they will provide a further update in the next few days. That alone puts an impressive stamp on the timeline and should give Kings fans a reason to be optimistic.

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