Author: Monojit Mandal
In an unexpected turn of events, the Phoenix Suns have opted to part ways with coach Monty Williams, just two years after he led the club to the NBA finals and a year after being voted coach of the year. Two people familiar with the situation revealed this information on Saturday, but asked to remain anonymous.
Williams enjoyed significant success in Phoenix during his four regular seasons, with a winning record of 63%. However, the Suns’ constant failures in the post-season seemed to be the determining factor in the organization’s decision. The successive years in which Phoenix was trailing by 30 points at halftime of elimination games on its own court were especially disturbing.
ESPN and The Athletic broke the news of Williams’ dismissal first, causing shock throughout the basketball community. The Suns’ recent failures in the postseason have been hard to watch, especially given their 2-0 lead in the 2021 NBA Finals, which ended in a six-game defeat. The club was also eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in each of the previous two seasons, losing to the Mavericks last year and the Nuggets this year.
After the heartbreaking loss to Denver, Williams expressed his dismay, recognizing the parallels between this year’s dismal finish and last year’s catastrophe. Of course, Saturday’s verdict wouldn’t have given much comfort to the coach, who is stepping down.
With the departure of Monty Williams, the Suns joined the list of clubs looking for a new coach, along with the Toronto Raptors (who just fired Nick Nurse) and the Milwaukee Bucks (who parted ways with Mike Budenholzer). Nurse helped the Raptors win their first NBA title in 2019, while Budenholzer oversaw a remarkable comeback after Phoenix took an early 2-0 lead in the 2021 Finals.
There are likely to be other changes as the Suns progress. It is hoped that the squad will change and, with a new coach in charge, a new system will be installed, with the hope of more success in the future.