Suns’ Monty Williams wins NBA Coach of the Year award
May 9, 2022, 1:10 PM | Updated: 4:09 pm
Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns talks to Chris Paul #3 during the second half of Game Three of the Western Conference First Round game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on April 22, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams has been named NBA Coach of the Year for the 2021-22 season, the team announced on Monday.
Suns guard Devin Booker was the first to report the news.
Leadership. Mentorship. Companionship.
Congratulations, Coach Monty Williams, on earning the 2021-22 NBA Coach of the Year. pic.twitter.com/XPpJdYhhZ4
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 9, 2022
Phoenix finished the season with a 64-18 record, first in net rating and top-five in both offensive and defensive ratings.
The Suns were 47-0 after leading after three quarters.
The Suns made a leap from a 34-39 record in 2019-20, Williams’ first year on the job, to a 51-21 mark last season, finishing second in the Western Conference.
After an NBA Finals appearance, Phoenix improved again by going 64-18 this season to earn the best regular-season record in the league by a full eight games over the second-place Grizzlies (56-26).
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Before hiring Williams, Phoenix went through five head coaches, including interims, since it last made the playoffs under Alvin Gentry in 2010. That list includes: Lindsey Hunter (2013), Jeff Hornacek (2013-15), Earl Watson (2016-17), Jay Triano (2017-18) and Igor Kokoskov (2018-19).
Williams has gone 149-78 in his three regular seasons with the Suns, guiding them through coronavirus protocols, a bubble and a roster reshape led by general manager James Jones.
The awards keep coming for Williams.
Earlier this season, Williams was voted by his fellow NBA coaches as the 2021-22 Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
The Suns and Mavericks are back in action Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Tune to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
