Suns head coach Monty Williams has won the Michael H. Goldberg Award for the 2021-22 season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This is the second year in a row Williams has been named the National Basketball Coaches Association’s Best Coach.
This award, introduced in 2017 and named after longtime NBCA executive Michael H. Goldberg, was voted for by 30 NBA head coaches, none of whom were able to vote for self. However, it’s not an official NBA Coach of the Year Award, voted for by members of the media and represented by the Red Auerbach Trophy. The winner of that award will be announced at the end of the year.
Williams led the Suns to an NBA-best 64-18 record this season despite the lack of an All-Star point guard Chris Paul for an extended period of time in the second half. Phoenix finished five in the top five for offensive and defensive ratings – the team’s net +7.5 is the best score of the tournament.
A year ago, Williams won the Coaches Association award and then placed second behind Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau for the official Coach of the Year award. This season, Williams will face stiff competition for the Red Auerbach Trophy from Taylor Jenkins, Erik Spoelstra, Ime Udoka and JB Bickerstaff, among others.
According to Wojnarowski, Jenkins (Grizzlies), Spoelstra (Heat), Willie Green (Pelicans), Tyronn Lue (Clippers) and Gregg Popovich (Spurs) were among the other coaches who received votes for the Michael H. Goldberg Awards season this.
