Devin Booker, Monty Williams named best in West for the month

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has been named Western Conference Player of the Month for October and November, while head coach Monty Williams won Coach of the Month, the NBA announced on Thursday.

Booker in the first 21 games of the season has averaged 29.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 48.9% from the field, 37.8% at 3-point range and 87.8% for free throws.

The award comes fresh off Booker’s season-high 51 points in a win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Booker needed only three quarters to do it, shooting 20-of-25 from the field. He became the seventh player since the league began tracking minutes to score at least 50 points in 31 minutes or less.

The Suns are off to a 15-6 start this season, tops in the Western Conference.

That’s despite only six games played for starting forward Cam Johnson, 10 for starting point guard Chris Paul and zero for Jae Crowder. Johnson tore the meniscus in his right knee while Paul is dealing with right heel soreness.

Crowder and the Suns, meanwhile, mutually agreed for him to be away from the team while Phoenix looks for a trade.

It is the second time Booker has won Western Conference Player of the Month, as he received the accolade for the first time in February 2021.

Booker’s and Williams’ awards follow Deandre Ayton winning Western Conference Player of the Week.

Notably, Booker took home the season’s first player of the month honor in a conference that includes Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, who is averaging 33.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game on 50.5% shooting.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors was another top candidate, as he is putting up 31.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists on shooting splits of 51.8/43.6/90.7.

And the West’s second-place team, the Denver Nuggets (14-7), are led by Nikola Jokic’s 22.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 8.9 assists on 62.9% shooting.

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