Suns’ Monty Williams has strong 1st impressions of Booker, Ayton
Jun 7, 2019, 6:31 AM
Devin Booker #1 and Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game against the Dallas Mavericks at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 17, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated defeated the Mavericks 121-100. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Monty Williams has been head coach of the Phoenix Suns for a little over a month now but he sure is taking that small amount of time to stay busy.
On top of leading pre-draft workouts, Williams is already watching plenty of film on his new players and getting to know them.
More specifically, he’s already had a dinner with star two-guard Devin Booker and worked out with last year’s No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton.
While joining 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Suns Offseason Special, Williams spoke on the potential of the young duo.
“Both of those guys can elevate an organization and can carry an organization,” he said Thursday.
Booker, 22, has become one of the best scorers in the league at a young age. He averaged 26.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game this season, joining a small contingent of All-NBA talent to post similar averages.
While Booker’s production is clearly there, Williams doesn’t want anyone to get confused about the way Booker gets those stats being beneficial to winning.
“He has a game that translates to every portion of the season,” he said. “Especially in the playoffs. I think Devin has a game that (is) a lot like the players you’re seeing right now.
“They can get their own shot. They can make other guys better. They can create for other guys. He’s got a big, strong body.”
As for the 20-year-old Ayton, Williams couldn’t contain himself in expressing how much he likes what is already there for the young big man.
“He looks like a beautiful canvas that you don’t want to mess up,” Williams said.
The head coach would know a thing or two about what that looks like after his time coaching the likes of Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid.
“I had a chance to work with [him] on the floor one morning and I was blown away at his footwork,” he said of Ayton. “I was excited about what we didn’t know because as we started to teach him a few things, he picked it up quickly and that excited me.”
While Williams is taking over a team that has won 40 games in the last two seasons, he also gets to take part in the molding of two very special young talents that could help take him and his team far.
“It just takes time to teach them but also to allow them to build an on-court relationship and hopefully, that translates into a lot of wins and success as a team,” he said.
