Inside Monty Williams’ $78.5M contract that reportedly makes him the highest-paid coach in NBA history

The Detroit Pistons and coach Monty Williams have agreed to a six-year deal worth $78.5 million, the biggest coaching deal in NBA history, according to ESPN. Incentives he will receive could raise the deal to eight years and $100 million, Forbes said.

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 enter into a front-office role, ESPN reported.

Williams’ new deal would be worth $12.5 million per season, and that makes him the highest-paid head coach in the NBA. According to Fox News, Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, who has the most wins for a head coach in NBA history, made $11.5 million last season while Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors was second at $9.5 million. Williams, who was named the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2021-22 season, did not even make the highest-salary top 10, Fox News said.

But while Williams was at the Phoenix Suns, they broke a franchise record of 64 games during the 2021-22 season and then made it to the 2021 NBA Finals. The Pistons, however, have gone seven straight campaigns without finishing over .500, ESPN reported, adding that their last winning season was in 2015-16. Williams now has the responsibility of developing young talents while rebuilding the team.