Yesterday was former Suns‘ head coach Monty Williams’s introductory press conference as the new head coach of the Detroit Pistons and Williams talked about his time in Phoenix as well as some interesting news that took place during the playoff run.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Little did we all know, that Williams’ wife was diagnosed with breast cancer during the playoff run when the Suns lost to the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
“My wife found out that she had breast cancer during the playoffs, and the reason that I bring it up is to not talk about my family, but to make it more of an emphasis that women need early detection. … We found it early, and that may have saved my wife’s life, and it can save others.”
Monty Williams' wife was diagnosed with breast cancer during the playoffs.
He didn't take the Pistons' coaching position until after his family received positive news about her diagnosis thanks to early detection 🙏 pic.twitter.com/RJr6yHpVDl
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 13, 2023
It was later said that Williams would only accept the Pistons’ job during the aftermath of her diagnosis which eventually ended up being positive news for him and his family.
Another key thing that was taken from this was the benefits Williams gets in his contract that can help out his family for a very very long time.
The Pistons will provide Monty Williams with private jet access and health care benefits for his wife Lisa, who’s battling breast cancer.
Wow that’s incredible. (via @omarisankofa) pic.twitter.com/Sq0SPrGCXG
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 14, 2023
It makes sense now when Brian Windhosrt on his Hoop Collective Podcast that there had been belief around the NBA that he was going to take a year off of coaching before he excepted this job.
“I mean, the Suns were planning on paying him next year,” Windhorst said. “All of these other teams knew that Monty was going to take care of his family and be with his family and take the year off. And it got to be so much money that the ‘taking care of your family’ inversed because it was like, ‘Well, wait a minute, I want to do what’s best for my family here, but maybe what’s best for my family is taking this freaking amazing offer.'”
The Pistons really didn’t take no for an answer and did whatever they could to get him even if that meant helping provide for his family. Kudos to Williams and the Pistons organization for getting it right because it’s bigger than baksetball.
