Following the postseason loss to the Nuggets, head coach Monty Williams is fired by the Suns.
When the Phoenix Suns executed a huge deal for 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant in the middle of the season, they showed courage. Following a humiliating postseason collapse, the Suns are now implementing a significant shift.
According to a person with firsthand knowledge of the matter who spoke anonymously because they were not permitted to talk in public, Phoenix fired head coach Monty Williams on Saturday. Two days after the Suns were ousted on their home court in a relatively non-competitive 125-100 home defeat to the No. 1 seed Denver Nuggets, Williams’ four-year contract comes to an end.
Williams had a 194-115 record and helped Phoenix snap a 10-year playoff drought in 2021, culminating in an NBA Finals trip. Nevertheless, it was the second straight year that the Suns’ season ended in a humiliating manner at home in the second round. The Suns finished 2021–22 with the best NBA record (64–18), but they lost Game 7 123–90 to Dallas, behind by thirty. The Suns trailed Denver by thirty points at the half in Game 6.
The Suns’ president of basketball operations and general manager, James Jones, confirmed the announcement in a statement late on Saturday night. “We are filled with gratitude for everything Monty has contributed to the Suns and to the Valley community,” Jones said.
“While it was difficult for me to make this decision, I look forward to continuing the work to build a championship team,” Jones stated.
After underperforming in the 2023 playoffs, Mike Budenholzer’s Bucks—who defeated Williams’ Suns squad four games to two—and Phoenix, the two clubs from the 2021 Finals, sacked their head coaches. After Milwaukee’s first-round loss to eighth-seeded Miami, the Bucks dismissed head coach Budenholzer.
Williams had a coaching interview with the Bucks in 2018, so it wouldn’t be shocking if Milwaukee reached out to him once more. Top roles are available with the Suns and Bucks, two teams predicted to challenge for a championship the following year. Giannis Antetokounmpo is back for Milwaukee, while Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, who played in only eight Suns regular season games due to injuries, are back for the Suns.
