# Collaborative Basketball Player Pizzas Pizza Guys' Malik Monk Special Was Created by the NBA Star By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2024-11-07 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/malik-monk-special References: [qsrmagazine](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/pizza-guys-releases-menu-special-inspired-by-nba-player-malik-monk/) & [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ahmad_monk/p/DB6srojR1Mq/) The Sacramento-based pizza franchise [Pizza Guys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pizza-guys-fan-favorites) recently unveiled its collaborative new Malik Monk Special. Basketball season is just getting started and Pizza Guys wanted to mark the occasion in a big way by teaming up with Malik Monk the superstar shooting guard for the Sacramento Kings [NBA](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pizza-hut-2) team. Together, the pizza franchise and Monk came up with what's been dubbed the 'Malik Monk Special.' This hearty combo features a pizza with four premium meats, (regular pepperoni, cup and crisp pepperoni, bacon and sausage) and a side of Cheezee Pepperoni Rolls. The combo also comes with a limited-edition pizza box that actually transforms into a basketball hoop. For just $4 more, fans can add a Pizza Guys x Malik Monk mini basketball to their order and shoot some hoops after devouring their delicious pizza. Image Credit: Pizza Guys ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 66% | Activity: 75% | Freshness: 30% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Celeb Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/celebproducts) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Athlete-endorsed Food Collaborations:** The collaboration between Malik Monk and Pizza Guys demonstrates how athletes can influence consumer food choices by adding an element of star power. - **Gimmick Packaging:** The limited-edition pizza box that transforms into a basketball hoop highlights a trend where packaging serves a dual purpose to enhance the customer experience. - **Limited-edition Merchandise:** Offering a Pizza Guys x Malik Monk mini basketball creates a sense of exclusivity and urgency, encouraging fans to make a purchase quickly. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Food and Beverage:** Pizza collaborations with celebrities can drive new sales and create buzz, showing significant promise for chains looking to refresh their market strategy. - **Sports and Entertainment:** Partnerships where sporting figures co-create products bring together two passionate fan bases, merging culinary and athletic interests. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Innovatively designed packaging and merchandise bundles represent new avenues for brands to capture consumer interest and differentiate themselves. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [One-Handed QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pizza-hut-2.md) - [Video Game Pizza Deals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nba-2k24-starry-combo.md) - [Pizza Brand Mini Basketballs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mini-basketballs.md) - [Customer-Driven Pizza Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pizza-guys-fan-favorites.md) - [Basketball Player-Approved QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kfc-jamal-murray-meal.md) - [XL Basketball-Inspired Slices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/raptors-mega-slice.md) - [Stuffed Pizza Sticks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shaqaroni-stuffed-sticks.md) - [Football-Themed Giveaways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mtn-dew-and-nba.md) - [Basketball Player-Approved QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jamal-murray-meal.md)