Booker named Kia Western Conference Player of the Month, Williams named Western Conference Coach of the Month for October/November
PHOENIX – After guiding the Suns to a Western Conference-best 15-6 record to begin the season, guard Devin Booker has been named the Kia Western Conference Player of the Month for October/November 2022, while Monty Williams has been named Western Conference Coach of the Month, the NBA announced today.
Booker is averaging a career-best 29.0 points, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds over the first 21 games of the season, while shooting 48.9 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three-point range and 87.8 percent from the free throw line. The three-time All-Star has notched three double-doubles so far this season and is coming off a season-high 51-point performance on Nov. 30 against the Bulls. For the second consecutive season, Booker is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 2.4 field goals made per game from each of the paint, midrange and three-point.
In the Nov. 30 win over Chicago, Booker added 6 assists and 4 rebounds to his 51 points, while shooting 20-of-25 from the field. His 51 points were the most ever scored by a Suns player inside Footprint Center, as he joined James Harden (Nov. 5, 2017) as the only players over the last 25 years with 50 points on 80 percent shooting or better through the first three quarters of a game. The performance came two days after Booker tallied 44 points, 8 rebounds and 6 steals, which matched his career high, in a win at Sacramento earlier in the week. Between the two games, Booker averaged 47.5 points on 69.8 FG%, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals, the second time in his career averaging 45+ points 65+ FG%, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists over a two game stretch; he joined Wilt Chamberlin and LeBron James to average such numbers over a two-game stretch multiple times in a career.
Booker has scored in double figures in all 21 games this season, including three 40+ points performances, all of which have occurred since Nov. 18. With his 26th birthday taking place on Oct. 30, Booker entered the game with 11,363 career points, the sixth-most points scored before a 26th birthday in NBA history. Additionally, in the Suns’ game at Utah on Nov. 18, Booker notched 47 points to go along with 10 assists and 8 rebounds, the fifth-ever game in franchise history with 45+ points and 10+ assists, as Booker now accounts for three of them.
This marks Booker’s second-career Western Conference Player of the Month honor, having also won for February 2021, as he joins Kevin Johnson (February 1989 and April 1997), Amar’e Stoudemire (March 2010 and April 2005), Steve Nash (January 2007 and November 2004), Shawn Marion (February 2006 and March 2002) and Charles Barkley (February 1996 and December 1992) for the most Conference Player of the Month honors in franchise history.
With Williams at the helm, the Suns currently sit atop the Western Conference standings and are currently riding an NBA-best six-game win streak, while also holding a league-best 12-1 record at home. After the Suns finished as the only team in the league last season to rank in the top-five in offensive, defensive and net rating, The Suns ranked second in offensive rating, sixth in defensive rating and second in net rating this season.
This marks Williams’ fifth time winning Western Conference Coach of the Month and the fourth time with the Suns, as he also won for January 2022, October/November 2021 and March 2021 with the Suns and January 2011 while coaching the New Orleans Hornets, whose roster included current Suns point guard Chris Paul. Last season, Williams, who was named NBA Coach of the Year, joined Alvin Gentry and Mike D’Antoni as the only Suns coaches to win it multiple times in the same season. He joins four-time winner Mike D’Antoni (December 2004, February 2006, December 2006, January 2007) as the only Suns coaches to win the monthly honor at least four times.
Joe Mazzula of the Boston Celtics was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month, while the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum was named the Kia Eastern Conference Player of the Month. The announcements come after Deandre Ayton was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday.
The Suns currently hold a one-game lead over Denver for the best record in the Western Conference this season and are currently riding a six-game winning streak. Phoenix holds an NBA-best 12-1 record at home this season, and is one-of-two teams in the league this season to rank in the top-six in offensive (2nd), defensive (6th) and net (2nd) rating.
Booker, Williams and the Suns look to extend their winning streak to a league-best seven tomorrow night at Footprint Center against the Rockets at 7 p.m. MT on Bally Sports Arizona before the team goes on the road for six of their next seven following the Houston game.