In the Charlotte Hornets locker room after the team’s 101-92 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday, forward Nic Batum had something to say to his second-year teammate Malik Monk.
“I thanked him,” Batum said. “Like, for real, I did.”
That’s certainly far from this team’s normal script, especially considering Monk’s nightly averages of 10 points and just over 18 minutes, but he certainly earned that gratitude Monday. Monk scored 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, all on 3-pointers, helping offset one of the Hornets’ worst shooting performances all year.
So yes, a little praise was well-deserved.