The Detroit Pistons and coach Monty Williams have agreed to a six-year deal worth $78.5 million, the highest coaching deal in NBA history, according to ESPN. According to Forbes, the incentives he will receive might push the deal to eight years and $100 million.
51-year-old Williams was sacked by the Phoenix Suns in May after they lost in the second round of the NBA Playoffs to the Denver Nuggets. He will now replace Dwane Casey, who stepped down as the Pistons’ coach in April to shift into a front-office role, ESPN reported.
Williams’ new deal would be about $12.5 million per season, and it makes him the highest-paid head coach in the NBA. According to Fox News, Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs earned $11.5 million as a head coach last season, while Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors earned $9.5 million. Williams, who was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 2021-22 season, did not even make the top 10, according to Fox News.
However, while Williams was with the Phoenix Suns, they set a franchise record by winning 64 games in the 2021-22 season and advanced to the NBA Finals. The Pistons, on the other hand, have gone seven straight seasons without finishing above.500, according to ESPN, with their last winning season coming in 2015-16. Williams is now in charge of developing young talent while rebuilding the team.