Monty Williams felt lucky to get drafted to the '90s Knicks squad with multiple Hall of Famers

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Starting your NBA career on a contender cuts both ways. Minutes are hard to find, which could eventually stall development.

However, as a rookie for the 1994-1995 New York Knicks, Monty Williams leaned more into the positives, soaking in the knowledge as he was surrounded by a group of veterans who led the way.

"For me, I can't thank those guys enough," Williams said on "Run Your Race" with Theo Pinson and AJ Richardson. "I still text with Patrick (Ewing), I still run into guys from time to time. I still see Anthony Bonner at Peach Jam because his son plays. I also had Doc Rivers, I had Derek Harper."

"Those guys taught me stuff that probably helped me as a player and as a coach," continued the 2022 NBA Coach of the Year.

Monty learned to be a pro

That Knicks unit in 1995 just came off a Finals loss to the Houston Rockets in 1994. They added pieces like Williams via the draft, but they retained most of their guys like Ewing, Doc Rivers, Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason and John Starks, to name a few.

More importantly, the guy leading the bench, Pat Riley, demanded accountability from day one.

Add these dynamics together and Monty just got a front row seat to the "How to be a pro" masterclass.

"I learned that the locker room is sacred. I learned how to eat. I learned how to work because you thought you did until you were around real pros," Williams reflected. "You walk into a facility and you see Derek Harper with an aloe vera juice jug in his hand… Charles Oakley running a mile or two before a three-hour practice, you realize this is different."

And since the expectation around the Orange and Blue that year was a return trip to the NBA finals, the practices were extra tough with a playoff atmosphere.

Even before the practices, the players were expected to work on their bodies and their games.

"Before practice, Charlie and I would have to lie for 30, 40 minutes then get on the court for 40 minutes with Jeff (Van Gundy) and then we had a three-hour practice," Williams recalled. "That group understood how hard it was and all of those guys put their arms around me and Charlie and Doug… That group was so influential for me."

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Monty's relationship with Doc 

Monty lasted one and a half seasons in the Big Apple, but the friendship he formed with his Knicks teammates remained strong. He grew particularly close with Rivers and his family, who literally opened their door to the 22-year-old rookie.

Williams crossed paths with Rivers again, years after their New York stop. The Orlando Magic claimed Monty off waivers in 1999, whose coach was none other than Doc. Rivers trusted Williams to be a veteran leader off the bench, a role he played to the letter.

"Monty is one of my favorite people in the world," Rivers said. "I played with him in the league, I coached him, he coached my son and we are very close. You knew right when he stopped playing basketball that he would be a great coach in this league."

As Williams reiterated, he may not have developed the work ethic to become a player and a coach if not for his Knicks teammates. That early support and lessons on accountability shaped how he approached his career, giving him a foundation for every role that followed.

Related: "That was an opportunity we didn't take advantage of" - Monty Williams believes 2019 76ers had everything to win the title

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.