‘That’s impressive’: Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams still dunking at age 51

Landry Shamet watched the video and couldn’t help but impersonate what he believes Monty Williams was thinking.

“He probably was talking crap to himself in his head like, ‘Come on old man, you need to get up,’” a smiling Shamet said. “‘Get up, get up.’ He’s such a competitor.”

The 51-year-old Suns head coach went airborne for a one-handed dunk after Tuesday’s practice at the team’s practice facility.

“That’s impressive,” Suns All-Star Devin Booker said, as he watched the video Wednesday.

Neither Booker nor Shamet was surprised their 6-foot-8 head coach flushed one. Williams turned 51 Oct. 8.

“He’s active,” Booker continued. “He’s an inspiration in that way. He looks good for 50. He’s slim. He works out every day. You see him in the weight room.”

So maybe Williams and Booker can play a little 1-on-1.

After all, Williams played nine NBA seasons from 1994 to 2003 – and still has the legs to finish above the rim.

“That’s a whole different thing,” a grinning Booker said.

Shamet said Williams dunked last year, but he hadn’t seen him do it since – until watching it on video.

“The first 20 games of the year last year, he came in and did it one day and everyone went crazy,” Shamet said.

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams talks to his players with guard Devin Booker by his side as the team holds an open practice for fans at the Footprint Center on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.

This time, Williams threw it down on the court furthest away from the main entrance with hardly anyone in the facility.

After multiple misses, Williams, with encouragement from assistant coach Jarrett Jack, dunked, but the ball bounced off the rim before dropping through the basket.

With sweat pouring as he had already gotten in a workout earlier, Williams once again measured it up, drove into the paint and cleanly jammed the ball home.

“Yeaaahh,” Jack shouted.

Williams immediately grabbed at his back while walking up the one side of the key. As he kept going across the free throw line, Williams gave the signal that was it.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Devin Booker impressed Suns coach Monty Williams dunking at age 51