Frank Layden, the sharp-witted former coach who led the Utah Jazz to the playoffs for the first time, has died. He was 93.

“Frank Layden made a lasting impact on the Jazz, the state of Utah, and the NBA,” the Jazz said in a statement. “There will never be another like him. Our thoughts go out to his family as we join in mourning his loss and celebrating his life. Rest easy, Coach.”

Known for his humor and sideline antics, Layden coached the Jazz from 1981-89 and had 277 wins, third-most in franchise history. He’s the only coach in Jazz history to be named NBA coach of the year, earning the honor in 1984, when he also was honored as executive of the year.

Born in Brooklyn in 1932, Layden began his coaching career in the high school ranks before moving on to coach at his alma mater, Niagara University. He made the jump to the NBA in 1976 on Hubie Brown’s staff with the Atlanta Hawks and became the New Orleans Jazz’s general manager in 1979.

Layden took over as coach after Tom Nissalke was fired midway through the 1981-82 season and led the franchise to its first playoff appearance in his second season. Layden stepped away from coaching early in the 1988-89 season and was replaced by future Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan.

Layden stayed on as the team’s president and general manager, part of a staff that selected Hall of Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone. He spent one season as coach of the WNBA’s Utah Starzz in 1998-99.

“It’s hard to imagine the story of the Utah Jazz without the presence of Frank Layden,” Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith said. “He was an amazing person who meant so much to this organization and to our fans. His love of the sport was felt around the NBA, and he set the franchise on a course for success, helping to build an enduring legacy for the state of Utah.”

Layden remained in the Salt Lake City area after leaving coaching and earned the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

SUNS’ BOOKER SIGNS for MAX EXTENSION

The Phoenix Suns signed star guard Devin Booker to a two-year, $145 million maximum contract extension through the 2029-30 season, multiple sources reported.

Booker, 28, has been one of the NBA’s best shooting guards, earning four All-Star appearances in 10 NBA seasons. The two-time all-NBA player has averaged 24.4 points since Phoenix took him out of Kentucky with the 13th overall pick in the 2015 draft.

Booker averaged 25.6 points, 7.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 46% from the floor during a disappointing 2024-25 season for the Suns.

max rookie extension for OKC’s Williams

Oklahoma City Thunder All-NBA star and champion Jalen Williams agreed to a five-year maximum rookie contract extension that could reach $287 million, agents Bill Duffy and Justin Haynes of WME Basketball told ESPN.

After becoming the second-youngest team in NBA history to win a title, the Thunder now have long-term commitments from their big three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26), Williams (24) and Chet Holmgren (23) to play together and compete for championships through the rest of the decade.

Gilgeous-Alexander officially signed a four-year, $285 million supermax Tuesday, and Holmgren reached a five-year, $250 million max Wednesday — with the three new extensions totaling up to $822 million.

Williams suffered a complete tear of the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist April 9 and played through the injury after missing two weeks in March due to a strain in the wrist. Williams detailed on YouTube his experience playing the rest of the season with the serious injury to his wrist, which was heavily taped. He received treatment such as pain-killing and anti-inflammatory injections.

He underwent surgery to repair the wrist after the Thunder’s Finals victory.

Williams, the Thunder’s No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 draft, earned All-NBA and All-Defensive Team honors after a stellar third season in Oklahoma City. He had a career year, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists on 48.4% shooting from the field.

Pelicans’ Jones agrees to new deal

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones agreed to a three-year, $68 million contract extension with the franchise, representatives Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller of Priority Sports told ESPN.

Jones now has a total of five years and $97 million on his Pelicans deal, with a new player option in 2029-30.

The 26-year-old has risen from a second-round pick in the 2021 NBA draft to a two-way stalwart for the Pelicans, being named to the 2023-24 All-Defensive first team.