Suns coach Monty Williams has been named the NBA Coach of the Year, the NBA announced Monday. He led Phoenix to an NBA-best 64–18 record this past regular season.
He was surprised with the award by his family in front of his team. Point guard Chris Paul was talking to the team before Williams’s son walked in hold the award and presented it to him as the Suns clapped.
“I’m just grateful that you guys allowed me and the staff to coach you guys the way we do,” Williams said. “The family atmosphere, everybody back here that makes all of this work and having my family be a part of this … this is so stinkin’ cool. I love you guys, I appreciate it, but this is us.”
Funnily enough, Suns star Devin Booker appears to be the first person to break the news. He tweeted that his coach won the award hours before the official announcement.
This is Williams’s third season in Phoenix and he’s compiled a 149–78 record since joining the franchise. Just last season, Phoenix won 51 games and earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference on its way to an NBA Finals appearance. The Suns fell to the Bucks in six games.
Williams was named the All-Star Game’s coach for the first time in his career in 2022 and won his second National Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award as well.
The Suns are currently tied with the Mavericks 2–2 in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
