Veteran center Greg Monroe hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since the 2019 postseason, having played in Germany and Russia during the last two seasons. However, during an appearance on The Ringer’s Real Ones podcast with Raja Bell and Logan Murdock, Monroe said he has been working out in Miami for the past couple months in the hopes of earning another NBA opportunity.
“Obviously the last couple years I’ve been playing overseas. I’ve been watching the playoffs and not being a part of it, but right now I definitely am focused on trying to get on a team and make a run” Monroe said. “I’ve been focusing on the work. That’s what I can control.”
Monroe’s contract with BC Khimki in Moscow was terminated in January, with the team citing his “personal circumstances” as the reason for the move. Speaking to Bell and Murdock, the 30-year-old referenced “some difficulties on the business side” leading to the end of his stint in Russia.
In 2019/20, Monroe suited up for German club Bayern Munich. His last stint in the NBA came in ’18/19, when he spent time with a handful of Atlantic teams. Monroe started the season with Toronto and was traded to Brooklyn at the deadline. After being waived by the Nets, he signed a 10-day contract with Boston and eventually reached a rest-of-season deal with the Sixers. For the season, he averaged 5.3 PPG and 4.0 RPG in 43 games (11.2 MPG).
Monroe is more of a traditional low-post center who isn’t an outside threat on offense and has struggled when tasked with defending pick-and-rolls or switching onto perimeter players. He told Bell and Murdock during his Real Ones appearance that he has made an effort to modernize his game, adding that he can bring a handful of useful traits to an NBA team, including toughness, rebounding, leadership, and plenty of experience.
“I’m ready to come in and whatever role is there for me, I’m ready to accept it,” Monroe said. “I know what I bring to a team. I know the skills, the versatility that I bring. It’s just about getting an opportunity to showcase that, to show that my game has evolved and I’ve been working on my game to change it to fit more of the style now.”
A relic who’s been put out to pasture
Monroe was drafted in 2010, he’s not that old lol
I think a team like the nets could certainly use an old school big man, the positionless nba is appearing as more and more of a lie to me…kwahi won with the raptors who had above average players at each position at the time, the clippers just don’t bring the same kind of game, 2 all star small forwards and they get beat by a relic big man in the playoffs last season, the nets have an insane 1,2 and 3, they don’t need a big man to shoot 3s, they need an old school guy in the post cleaning the glass and defending the rim
Some people here think the NBA doesn’t play that way anymore. Bandwagon fans of course. You can’t teach size. You can’t teach size. You can teach everything else. Size will always matter. Big PG, Big SG, Big 3, Big 4, a Real center. Wiseman #2 pick. Mobley #2 pick this yr. Size Size Size always.
Only 28 . If he would just reb and play the middle. He could have a job as backup. D was not his strength unfortunately
Does not matter if one likes NBA disinterest in Monroe or not. It’s the times, not a matter of personal preference. Dedmon or Whiteside or Henson, same.
Monroe would not or could not affect his own game and so is obsolete. Same could be said about an old ball coach who thinks his opinion is all that is needed.
It is too late to turn the tide; now there can only be something like backlash or overcompensation to positionless BB.
One might have thought Lakers vs Heat last year would be enough to prove the value of size, but no.
Nobody “in charge” of a club wants to be the one living in the past. The lack of appeal of the dinosaurs in question might matter.
He would be wilt chamberlain if he played in his era
Wilt was mobile, taller, better. Not limited until he got to the Lakers but was crucial to a team that averaged 121 ppg & won the title.
This dude is super skilled, but as the article mentions, he cant defend pick and roll or protect the rim. Cant really remember how he was as a post defender either. He could potentially be useful off the bench for a team that has bigs that can do those things/plays good defense around them, and maybe struggles to rebound at times, like maybe the Heat last year, but if he could do 1 of those 3 things mentioned, it would give him a much better shot, even though he doesnt shoot the 3. He does still have a good midrange jumpshot, if I recall correctly, which is good enough in the right situations. I remember I thought he was very good in his small sample for Boston a few years ago, and I think 1 of his other stops he was useful too, maybe it was Philly
If you check out RemyWorkouts on Instagram, you can see some videos of Monroe playing. A lot of the guys looking to make a comeback workout with Stanley Remy. Ariza was just there before he got traded to Heat. I only know this because I want to High School with Remy.
He has yet to expand his game. When you are a boring big, the clock is ticking until you improve. He didn’t, hence why is out of the league!
Jahlil Okafor’s future
He’d be a backup with limited minutes. Mainly a matchup guy vs bigs who can’t move. Good luck finding a roster spot for his limitations. He’s only a big rebounder.
Hope springs eternal