Monty Williams facts for kids
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Williams at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game
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| TMI Episcopal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Head coach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 8, 1971 Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S. |
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| High school | Potomac (Oxon Hill, Maryland) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Notre Dame (1989–1994) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the New York Knicks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1994–2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 2005–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As player: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | New York Knicks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | San Antonio Spurs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | Denver Nuggets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2002 | Orlando Magic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As coach: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2010 | Portland Trail Blazers (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2015 | New Orleans Hornets / Pelicans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Oklahoma City Thunder (associate HC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Philadelphia 76ers (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2023 | Phoenix Suns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Detroit Pistons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | TMI Episcopal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As head coach:
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 2,884 (6.3 ppg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 1,296 (2.8 rpg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 544 (1.2 apg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Tavares Montgomery Williams (born October 8, 1971) is an American basketball coach and former player. He used to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Now, he is the head coach for the boys' basketball team at TMI Episcopal.
Williams played for five different NBA teams from 1994 to 2003. After his playing career, he became a coach. He has been an assistant coach, an associate head coach, and a head coach in the NBA.
He was the head coach for the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans from 2010 to 2014. He also helped coach the U.S. national team. In 2019, Williams became the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. He led the Suns to the NBA Finals in 2021. In 2022, he was named the NBA Coach of the Year. The Suns won a franchise record 64 games that season. After leaving the Suns, he coached the Detroit Pistons for one year.
Contents
Early life and school
Monty Williams was born on October 8, 1971, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He went to Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland. He was a great basketball player there.
College basketball
Williams played college basketball at the University of Notre Dame. He was a 6-foot-8-inch small forward. In his final year, he averaged 22.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He was even named an honorable mention All-American.
Even though he had a heart condition that kept him out for two seasons, NBA teams still wanted him. The New York Knicks chose him in the first round of the 1994 NBA draft. He was the 24th player picked overall.
Playing in the NBA
Monty Williams played in the NBA for nine seasons, from 1994 to 2003.
New York Knicks (1994–1996)
He started his NBA career with the New York Knicks. He played for them from 1994 to 1996.
San Antonio Spurs (1996–1998)
Williams was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 1996. He played there for two seasons, until 1998.
Denver Nuggets (1999)
In 1999, Williams briefly played for the Denver Nuggets. He was with the team for less than a month.
Orlando Magic (1999–2002)
After leaving the Nuggets, Williams joined the Orlando Magic. He played for the Magic until 2002.
Philadelphia 76ers (2002–2003)
Williams then signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2003, his playing career ended because of ongoing knee problems. In total, he played 456 NBA games. He scored 2,884 points, averaging 6.3 points per game.
Coaching career
San Antonio Spurs (2005)
In 2005, Williams got his start in coaching. He worked as an intern for the coaching staff of the San Antonio Spurs. That year, the Spurs won an NBA championship.
Portland Trail Blazers (2005–2010)
Later in 2005, Williams became an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. He worked under head coach Nate McMillan for five seasons.
New Orleans Hornets / Pelicans (2010–2015)
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On June 7, 2010, Monty Williams became the head coach of the New Orleans Hornets. He was the youngest head coach in the NBA at 38 years old. In his first season, the Hornets won 46 games and made the playoffs.
He later signed a four-year contract extension with the team, which was renamed the New Orleans Pelicans. Williams also became an assistant coach for the U.S. national team. He helped coach the team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
In the 2014–15 season, the Pelicans won 45 games and made the playoffs. However, they lost in the first round. After five seasons, Williams left the Pelicans in May 2015. His record as head coach was 173 wins and 221 losses.
Oklahoma City Thunder (2015–2016)
In June 2015, Williams became the associate head coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He stayed with the Thunder for one season.
Philadelphia 76ers (2018–2019)
After a break, Williams returned to coaching in June 2018. He joined the Philadelphia 76ers as the lead assistant coach.
Phoenix Suns (2019–2023)
In May 2019, the Phoenix Suns hired Williams as their head coach. He signed a five-year deal. In his first season, the Suns had a tough start. But in the special "NBA Bubble" during the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams led the Suns to win all eight of their games.
In November 2020, Williams was reunited with star player Chris Paul. He had coached Paul before in New Orleans. After the 2020–21 season, Williams was named the NBCA Coach of the Year. He also finished second for the NBA Coach of the Year award.
The Suns finished that season with a great record of 51 wins and 21 losses. They won their division and were the second-best team in the Western Conference. Williams led the Suns through the playoffs. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers and swept the Denver Nuggets. Then, they won the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Clippers. This sent the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. It was also Williams' first time coaching in the Finals. The Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.
In January 2022, Williams was chosen to be the Western Conference head coach for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. This was because the Suns had the best record in the NBA. The Suns finished the 2021–22 season with a franchise record of 64 wins and only 18 losses. Williams won his second straight NBCA Coach of the Year award. He was also named the official NBA Coach of the Year for the 2021–22 season.
In July 2022, Williams signed a new contract extension with the Suns. However, on May 13, 2023, the Suns fired Williams. This happened after they lost in the Western Conference semifinals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
Detroit Pistons (2023–2024)
On June 2, 2023, Williams became the head coach for the Detroit Pistons. During his first year, the Pistons had a very difficult season. They lost 28 games in a row, which was the longest losing streak in one NBA season. They also had a month where they didn't win any games. On June 19, 2024, after just one season, Williams was fired. The Pistons had the worst record in the league that year, with 14 wins and 68 losses.
TMI Episcopal (2024–present)
On October 20, 2024, Williams accepted a new coaching job. He became the boys' basketball head coach at TMI Episcopal in San Antonio, Texas. He will coach his sons, Elijah and Micah, there.
Executive career
San Antonio Spurs (2016–2017)
In 2016, Monty Williams took on a new role. He became the vice president of basketball operations for the San Antonio Spurs. This job involves helping to manage the team's basketball-related decisions. In 2017, he won the Sager Strong Award. This award honors people in basketball who show courage, faith, and compassion.
Personal life
Monty Williams is a Christian. He was married to his first wife, Ingrid, and they had five children together. Sadly, Ingrid passed away in a car accident in Oklahoma City on February 10, 2016. In 2017, Williams married his second wife, Lisa Keeth.
Images for kids
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Williams coaching in 2014
See also
In Spanish: Monty Williams para niños
