The Phoenix Suns have reportedly dismissed head coach Monty Williams after four seasons with the team. According to sources, Williams’ firing was a result of the team’s disappointing playoff run, which ended in a humiliating Game 7 defeat against Dallas in the second round. The Suns, who had the best record in the NBA in 2021-22, were expected to contend for a championship after acquiring All-Star Kevin Durant at the trade deadline. However, they fell short in the playoffs for the second consecutive year, leading to Williams’ dismissal.
Williams had relative success with the Suns, leading them to a 10-season playoff drought in 2021, which ended in an NBA Finals appearance. He was also named NBA Coach of the Year for the 2022 season. In his four-year tenure with the team, Williams had a 194-115 record. However, his failure to lead the Suns to a championship in a season when they had the best record in the NBA ultimately cost him his job.
The Suns’ firing of Williams follows that of Milwaukee Bucks’ coach Mike Budenholzer and Toronto Raptors’ coach Nick Nurse. Williams is expected to be a contender for the vacant Bucks coaching job, as both the Suns and Bucks are expected to contend for a title next season.
Williams’ dismissal reflects the high expectations faced by the Suns’ core players, led by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, as well as the perils of being a head coach after an ownership change. The Suns’ lack of depth and injuries to Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul left them with few answers for the Dallas Mavericks. The firing might also not be a cheap one for the Suns, as Williams signed a pricey contract extension last summer that was set to go into effect in 2024. The Suns face a cap crunch with the addition of the NBA’s second, more punitive tax apron, which firing Williams won’t help with.
The Suns become another high-profile coaching opening this summer alongside Toronto and Milwaukee. The team, which already has two top-10 players in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker under contract long-term, is considered an attractive market, with dynamic ownership. The Suns also have a needy roster with little cap flexibility this summer, and new owner Mat Ishbia hopes to make changes to help the team compete for a championship.
In an interview after his firing, Williams took responsibility for failing to ensure his team was ready for the final game of the season. He acknowledged the high standards expected of the Suns and wished the team and its fans the best of luck for the future. The Suns have not yet announced Williams’ replacement as head coach.
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