Monty Williams has landed on his feet.
After being fired by the New Orleans Pelicans following a 45-37 season that sent the team to the playoffs, the 43-year-old coach has been hired by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Yahoo reports. Williams will be the top assistant on new coach Billy Donovan’s staff.
Williams, a former pro, had a five-season tenure as head coach of the Pelicans before being dumped. He has a background of coaching with Team USA in addition to his work with New Orleans.
The Oklahoman points out that the hiring of Williams could be pivotal in convincing Kevin Durant to remain with the Thunder long term. Both men grew up in the Washington D.C. area and spent some time together with USA Basketball last year.
“We’d always been around each other, but we’ve never talked,” Williams said in December via The Oklahoman. “When we talked this summer, we realized how much we had in common. His mom I think went to my high school. I think Kevin is a wonderful person and is always doing the right thing. We just had some really good conversations about life and basketball.
Durant also expressed admiration for Williams and commented about enjoying his time with the coach.
Durant will be a free agent after next season and there have been a lot of questions about where he will choose to sign. With the Donovan and Williams hires, it seems like OKC has gone two-for-two on moves that will please their MVP.
