The Phoenix Suns will open the preseason today against a familiar face in Monty Williams and the Detroit Pistons.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Suns parted ways with Williams as their head coach just a day after they fell to the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs.
Williams had helped take the Suns to new heights in his tenure in Phoenix. Since he was hired in May of 2019, he finished with an overall record of 309-194 (.628) with Phoenix, was the 2022 Coach of the Year, led the team to the 2021 NBA Finals, went 8-0 in the bubble.
He inherited a team that went 19-63 the year prior and set them up for future success right away with their bubble performance. The Suns improved to 34-39 in Williams’ first season in 2019. They then just established themselves as one of the top teams in the league.
Monty Williams in 4 seasons with the Suns:
🟠2022 Coach of the Year
🟠2021 NBA Finals appearance
🟠3 straight top-4 finishes in Western Conference
🟠Winningest NBA head coach since 2021
🟠8-0 in the NBA Bubble pic.twitter.com/kK56DEiuPK— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) May 14, 2023
Following his dismissal in Phoenix, Williams then became the highest-paid coach in the entire NBA (at the time) when he was hired by the Pistons.
Williams brought over a plethora of Suns’ assistants with him to Detroit. These coaches include Mark Bryant, Jarrett Jack, Brian Randle and Steve Scalzi.
Here’s what Devin Booker, Josh Okogie and Kevin Durant had to say about playing against Williams:
Devin Booker on Monty Williams
Devin Booker is the only player on the Suns roster who has been with Williams from Williams’ first day in the Valley (he’s also the only player left from the 2021 NBA Finals run). He had nothing but positive things to say about Williams.
“I could be here all day talking about coach Mont(y Williams),” Booker said Wednesday, “what he’s done for me as a person, what he’s done for my career. In a search of stability through my career, I finally found it. Coach Mont did things and changed the culture around here like no one ever has. So big respect to Mont. I can’t wait to see the guys, J(arret) Jack, everybody’s that’s been on the coaching staff, MB (Mark Bryant), all those guys, so it’s going to be fun.”
Josh Okogie on Monty Williams
Suns’ guard/forward Josh Okogie only played one season under Williams in Phoenix, but the two developed a very close relationship.
“Coach Mont helped me grow as a player and a person,” Okogie said. “Last year, when I broke my nose, he was the first one to call me. He was like, ‘Man I hated that you did that. Man you were just getting rolling.’ He was excited about what I was doing on the court. (He was) like, “If you need anything just let me know, take your time getting back.’ And just always if I’m having a bad day, having a bad game, he’s the first one saying, ‘Keep your head up young buck.’
“Being able to see him this week is going to be great, just to give him a hug, catch up a little bit. But we still mean business when we go over there.”
Okogie added that he didn’t think much of Williams’ firing because he was a free agent at the time.
He also joked that Williams shouldn’t be too mad because of the contract he got from Detroit.
“Coach, I need a piece of that,” Okogie said.
The Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons will meet for the #Suns first preseason matchup on Sunday. Ahead of this, Josh Okogie spoke on what new Pistons’ coach Monty Williams meant to him in Phoenix.
Watch the full presser here: https://t.co/G5Z4LqB4fE@BurnCitySports @BurnCitySuns pic.twitter.com/PpPcc42kMx
— Brendan Mau (@brendan_mau) October 5, 2023
Kevin Durant on Monty Williams
Kevin Durant did not play many games in a Suns uniform last year after being acquired at the deadline. However, he and Williams were very complimentary of each other during their time together.
I asked the Suns’ forward what he thought of going against Williams.
“It’s just a regular game,” Durant said. “Monty coached me for what, not even 20 games, but it’ll be good to see the staff and some of the guys I worked with before.”
The Suns and Pistons tip off at noon today in Detroit.
WATCH: Frank Vogel Discusses Plan for Phoenix Suns Ahead of Preseason Matchup Vs. Detroit Pistons
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
