NEW YORK – Mike Miller of the Westchester Knicks today was named the 2017-18 NBA G League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year in a vote by NBA G League head coaches and general managers.

Miller guided the Knicks (32-18) to a franchise-record 32 victories as Westchester finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference and earned the Atlantic Division title for the first time in franchise history. Westchester won nine of its first 10 road games en route to an NBA G League-best 19-6 road record.

In his third season as the team’s head coach, Miller led the Knicks to a 13-win improvement from 2016-17 (19-31).  Westchester ranked second in the NBA G League in both net rating (4.5) and three-point field goal percentage (38.7) and was third in defensive rating (102.1).

Under Miller’s guidance, Westchester produced a team-record five GATORADE Call-Ups – Trey Burke to the New York Knicks, Nigel Hayes to the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings, and Xavier Rathan-Mayes to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Miller joined the Knicks in 2015 after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach with the Austin Spurs, the NBA G League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs.  He also spent 20 years as an NCAA coach, including head coaching roles with Eastern Illinois and Texas State.

The NBA G League Coach of the Year award is named for the late Hall of Famer Dennis Johnson, a star NBA guard and NBA G League coach.  During his playing career with the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Seattle SuperSonics, Johnson won three NBA titles, played in five NBA All-Star Games and was named to the All-Defensive First Team six times.  He was in his third season coaching in the NBA G League when he passed away in 2007.

Miller will be presented with the award tonight before Westchester hosts Raptors 905 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Westchester County Center (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV).

Austin’s Blake Ahearn and the Erie BayHawks’ Josh Longstaff finished second and third, respectively, in voting for the 2017-18 NBA G League Coach of the Year award.

All-Time Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year Award Recipients
2017-18: Mike Miller, Westchester Knicks
2016-17: Jerry Stackhouse, Raptors 905
2015-16: Dan Craig, Sioux Falls Skyforce
2014-15: Scott Morrison, Maine Red Claws
2013-14: Conner Henry, Fort Wane Mad Ants
2012-13: Alex Jensen, Canton Charge
2011-12: Eric Musselman, Los Angeles D-Fenders
2010-11: Nick Nurse, Iowa Energy
2009-10: Chris Finch, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2008-09: Quin Snyder, Austin Toros
2007-08: Bryan Gates, Idaho Stampede
2006-07: Bryan Gates, Idaho Stampede

About the NBA G League
The NBA’s official minor league, the NBA G League prepares players, coaches, officials, trainers and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory.  Featuring 26 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2017-18 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.  An all-time-high 44 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2016-17 season boasted NBA G League experience.  In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA Cares programs.  NBA G League games are available on ESPN’s family of networks, Twitch, Eleven Sports and NBA TV.