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).
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.
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