Ex-Cat Monk doubtful for NBA summer league because of ankle injury

Less than a week after the Charlotte Hornets selected Malik Monk with the 11th pick in the NBA Draft, the former University of Kentucky basketball star has had to hit the pause button on the start of his pro career.

Monk is expected to need two to four weeks to recover from a left ankle sprain suffered during the draft workout process, the Hornets announced Tuesday.

The NBA team said Monk will miss this week’s Summer League training camp in Charlotte and it’s doubtful he’ll play in the Hornets’ games in the Orlando Pro Summer League, which tips off Saturday.

“He’s here learning how we do things, but it’s not the same when you’re on the sideline instead of the” court, said Hornets assistant Stephen Silas, who is coaching the summer-league team.

“He’ll be prepared (for training camp in October), but it would have been nice to have him.”

The Hornets had intended to experiment some in Orlando with Monk at point guard.

Charlotte does not field a team in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League, which starts July 7.

This story was originally published June 27, 2017 at 11:49 AM with the headline "Ex-Cat Monk doubtful for NBA summer league because of ankle injury."