Monty Williams, who was fired by the Phoenix Suns last summer and later landed with the Detroit Pistons, has been fired by Detroit, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The decision comes after the Pistons finished with an NBA-worst 14-68 record that included a 28-game losing streak.
When Williams agreed to a deal with Detroit last summer, it was the largest contract for a coach in NBA history. Now, he leaves with five years and $65 million-plus left on his deal.
Williams — a two-time NBA coach of the year — was lured to Detroit with a massive six-year deal after leaving the Suns. He had initially planned to sit out a season while dealing with his wife's cancer diagnosis, but took on Pistons' rebuild under Troy Weaver. Now, a new front… https://t.co/12XIHbqoFp
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 19, 2024
Even though the Pistons parted ways general manager Troy Weaver earlier this offseason and hired new president Trajan Langdon, the decision to fire Williams was made by ownership, Wojnarowski added.
The decision to fire Monty Williams now was made at the ownership level, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/JoBuIBy0Bo
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 19, 2024
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 194-115 (.628) with Phoenix, was the 2022 Coach of the Year, led the team to the 2021 NBA Finals, went 8-0 in the bubble and much more.
He inherited a team that went 19-63 the year prior and set them up for future success right away with their bubble performance in 2020, as they improved to 34-39 overall in Williams’ first season. They then established themselves as one of the top teams in the league.
Despite this 2021 Finals appearance and a franchise-record 64 wins in the 2021-22 season, the Suns decided to move on from Williams after losing to the eventual-champion Denver Nuggets in six games in the second round in 2023.
“I mean I’d be here all day (talking about what he did for me),” Devin Booker said about Williams in February. “Finally found stability in my career, I think starting with the the bubble run and the year before until now. (Williams) was a huge part of that in setting the culture, setting the foundation and turning Phoenix basketball back into winning basketball.”
The Suns replaced Williams with Frank Vogel after firing him last summer. However, Vogel only lasted one season after the Suns finished with a 49-33 record and were swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Mike Budenholzer was hired just two days after Vogel was dismissed to become the franchise’s third coach in as many seasons and 22nd overall.
Suns thank Monty Williams with tribute video in return to the Valley
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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
