Report – Monty Williams named NBA Coach of the Year after leading Phoenix Suns to league best record

Phoenix Suns Coach Monty Williams has been named the NBA Coach of the Year, the Associated Press reported Monday, citing a source familiar with the decision.

The league is expected to make an official announcement late Monday, although the Suns . stars Devin Booker and Chris Paul appeared to break the news on social media earlier.

Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams has been named the COY of the NBA, the book said. An official announcement is expected later today.

– Books (@DevinBook) May 9, 2022

WD > WS… Congratulations Coach Mont on Coach of the Year!!

– Chris Paul (@ CP3) May 9, 2022

The award comes a year after Williams finished second in the vote, just 11 points behind winner Tom Thibodeau’s New York Knicks.

Under Williams, the Suns finished the season with an NBA-best 64-18 record and earned a top seed in the Western Conference knockouts. Before two seasons have passed under Williams, it has been 10 years since the Suns finished with at least 50 regular-season wins, and last year’s NBA Finals tour was their first since Charles Barkley led them there in 1993.

Last month, Williams was honored with the National Basketball Coaches Association’s Best Coach award for the second consecutive season.

Williams, 50, is in his third season in Phoenix and his eighth overall as an NBA coach, which includes five with New Orleans Pelicans (2010-15). He has a career age of 322-299.