The Oklahoma City Thunder have hired Monty Williams as the top assistant under new head coach Billy Donovan, reports Anthony Slater of NewsOK.com. Williams, the former head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, gives the OKC staff an added element of experience as it transitions following the departure of Scott Brooks.
Thunder hire Monty Williams as Billy Donovan’s top assistant
Williams didn’t take long finding a new job after being fired in New Orleans.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Williams, 43, led New Orleans to its first playoff appearance since 2011 this year, with the help of Anthony Davis. It wasn't enough to keep his job, however, as the team fired him after a first-round sweep at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. Despite previous expectations that a playoff spot would earn him another shot, Williams was replaced by Alvin Gentry last month.
Now Williams joins the staff in Oklahoma City, where he’ll be the associate head coach and top assistant under Donovan, who was hired by the Thunder on April 30. The longtime coach at the University of Florida is finally making the NBA leap with one of the league’s most talented rosters, and Williams will help show him the ropes much like we saw with Gentry and Steve Kerr in Golden State this year.
The relationship between Williams and star forward Kevin Durant also likely factored into the hiring. Both grew up near Washington, D.C. and spent extended time together at Team USA basketball camp last summer. It sounds like there's a lot of mutual respect between the two, and that was likely valued by OKC after the team reportedly made the Donovan-Brooks moves without consulting players.
Prior to taking over as New Orleans' head coach in 2010, Williams was an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2005-10. During his playing career from 1994-03, Williams spent time with the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers.
See More:
