Point the finger at the Detroit Pistons, or give them credit.

NBA head coaches are earning more money than they have in the past. The head coach of the New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau, might come next. And Michigan was where the trend began.

Tom Gores, the owner of the Pistons, was hankering after Monty Williams just a year ago, but there was a catch: the player wasn’t prepared to take on coaching duties again after splitting with the Phoenix Suns. Still, the Pistons checked in. Williams expressed his lack of interest. However, Detroit was not deterred by a single denial.

Gores increased his offer. According to James Edwards of The Athletic, Williams spent the evening in Gores’ living room before boarding a private jet the following day to travel from Phoenix to California. In a week, he reached an agreement with the Pistons.

Williams’ prize for playing the hard to get so brilliantly? a $73 million, six-year deal that would be the biggest ever for an NBA coach.

The rest of the market went up in flames.

Shortly after Williams signed a contract with the Pistons, Gregg Popovich, a five-time champion’s former assistant, received an extension from the San Antonio Spurs. Popovich reportedly received a record-breaking $80 million over the course of the new contract; however, because he was also the team president, Popovich’s earnings fell into a different category than Williams’.