Two decades ago, when Monty Williams was an attacker with the Orlando Magic, he was stopped by a policeman from Orlando, Florida, for speeding on a freeway. Williams remembers being afraid, given the long history of black men dealing with police brutality. Fortunately for him, the meeting had a positive outcome.
“I continued to shake hands out the window,” Williams told The Undefeated recently Williams, who is now the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. “In the end, he got out of his car and walked over to the car and said,” Dude, can you get out of your car, please? “I went out. I gave him my license. He recognized who I was and said,” Listen, man, we’re not all like that. “I felt embarrassed. So we sat there and talked. It was really nice. I had apprehensions. He was actually Hispanic. He just said, ‘Look, we’re not all like that, man. You’re the one speeding up. It’s not that I didn’t have anything else to do and wanted to stop you. “
“Thinking back, I think it has reduced [the ticket]. But he also understood my fear. This was the thing that came out of that conversation. “
With protests worldwide against police brutality and racial injustice after George Floyd’s death on May 25, Williams has discussed his experiences with his family and team in the past few weeks. He also plans to continue the conversation with the NBA season slated to start again in Orlando on July 30th. The Suns, who are six games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the western playoff end point with eight games remaining, are among the 22 participating NBA teams.
Williams, 48, spoke to The Suns’ Undefeated who resumed their season, his experiences with racism and the police and more.
Despite the long odds, why are you excited that the suns are in Orlando?
We are a young team that develops a program. It wouldn’t help us sit down from March to maybe December, January. … Being able to get back to the gym in the last month and being able to communicate with our kids about social justice along with the concepts and things we want to do as a team has been a good process for us.
We have a lot to gain from being in Orlando. It will be a tough deal. But of all the teams there, we have the opportunity to reap the maximum benefits just because we are such a new program and a young team. …
And with everything that everyone has experienced, from the pandemic to watching police brutality, inequality in our country, to be able to be together and keep these conversations in a safe place, I appreciate it as a coach, as a person.
How much did you miss the coach?
I didn’t stop. I drove our kids crazy. We ship film material. From time to time I have had conversations with all our boys. I haven’t done all the Zoom chats I’ve heard from other teams. I don’t want to bore guys. … but I had many nice talks with all our kids individually, on the phone. It was really nice to be in my training zone and looking at my phone and one of the players is trying to face me.
Our conversations have been much more than just basketball. I’ve talked to our kids about the situations in our society, whether it’s police brutality, coronavirus, all things, and therefore their personal lives.
Is there anything your team would like to do in terms of having your voice in Orlando?
There is so much on the table. I do not know. I think the championship will be part of allowing coaches and players to speak freely. I know the association of coaches, we have some things that we are trying to do. We have a leadership team that leads this diversity and social justice reform led by Lloyd Pierce. Those guys, we get on the phone every Monday and talk. I think once we’re down there, there will be some things, I’m not entirely sure what, whether it’s PSA or group discussions or getting people in and talking. Time will be used wisely so that people can have a place to learn and express themselves.
When did you first see George Floyd’s video, what was your reaction?
When I saw that agent look at that camera again, it was a moment for me. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way in my life, in relation to social issues. I heard my grandparents tell me stories of what it was like when they grew up. I know where my family comes from. The Williams plantation in Lenoir County in North Carolina.
But when I saw that agent look at that camera again and the look on his face, I don’t think I will ever forget him and how I felt looking at him with a casual look as if he were untouchable. This sticks out to me more than anything else.
Why do you think the answer from the world and white America is different now?
I think there is a young generation that is willing to step forward and say, “Dude, it’s wrong.” Considering that before, the generations may have been a little more hesitant because they may have worried about their job or their place in society, whatever the case may be.
It is nice to look at. All ethnic groups, men and women, standing together and willing to say that this is messed up. I don’t know if we had it when I was growing up. We have always had a movement, be it the NAACP or a section. Do you know what I’m saying? I don’t think it was so vast across our nation.
What did you discuss with your five children in terms of social injustice, police brutality, the Black Live Matters movement, etc.?
The conversations were me to ask a question and listen to them while I spoke. I make them sit and watch with me. … To hear them talk about what they are feeling, it is important for me to shut up. I tried to pour as much as possible into them. …
I am excited but I am still very worried when I look at leadership in our country. I still see this segment of our society that does not recognize that there are things that need to change. That part is about when you are raising young African American men in this social structure called America. Nobody in America should wonder if they are really American. And what does it really mean? For the first time in our lives, we ask ourselves if we are truly free. We truly live in a free society. If you look at the history of our country, many of our answers, if we were really honest about it, probably wouldn’t be. It’s pretty sad when you’re raising young African American men.
Why was it important for you to make a personal statement about your thoughts on George Floyd after he was killed?
I could hide behind the privilege that has been given to me. I am an NBA coach who earns more money than you deserve, I live in a gated community and I felt like I was a bit [insulated] from what was going on. I didn’t want to lose 10, 20 years and look back on this and look my kids in the eye knowing that I hadn’t done or said anything about what was going on with the small platform I have.
I wanted to say something. I didn’t know what to say and I had to organize my feelings a little. This was. I really wanted to be able to be part of this movement and also to be able to look at my kids and say, “Hey, your dad had a drop in the ocean.” At least I threw my drop in there to try and be part of this movement.
Have you had difficult experiences with the police or racism in your youth?
I grew up in Virginia. This was the origin of slavery in this country. I heard stories when I was a kid. I listened to my grandparents. I listened to my mom and my aunts or uncles and cousins who were older than me. They would talk about things. So when you’re growing up there and someone calls you a derogatory name, they put the meat on the bones of those stories. You start to think, “Dude, that’s what they faced – on a smaller scale, but still bad.”
Then, when I grew up and started living a little on my own, I had some encounters with the cops that I thought were useless. At the same time, I had encounters with incredibly professional and off-scale cops. I haven’t lost sight of him.
Where is your level of comfort in being in the NBA bubble during the pandemic?
I have tried to educate myself in the best possible way. I am comfortable with the environment because I will try to do everything possible to keep myself safe. I won’t let my guard down because I’m in the bubble. It is up to everyone to take this approach.
We have seen these peaks in these countries and out of the west because I think they all drop their guard as soon as the numbers go down or there is no command to wear a mask. For me, I’m fine because I will probably do everything I can to be over the top to wear a mask, wash my hands and try to be safe.
How difficult will it be to be away from your wife and children?
I did it once with the United States [Basketball] when we were at the World Cup. The World Cup is much longer than the Olympics. I remember being in Spain and I was just walking on the streets. I was just missing my family, friend. I was in tears … like “God, I miss my family.”
We’ve been together every day for four months. So just like that, we’re going to have this separation for about five weeks. Will be difficult. I know it’s coming, but it will be really difficult to stay away from them for so long.
How will the Orlando spotlight help Devin Booker and the Sun become more familiar to NBA fans?
Book and Ricky [Rubio], those guys I think will have the opportunity to consolidate their bond. I think Book is probably working hard to play national TV. People know who he is, but he will have the chance to really impress who is on a big stage where basketball will be at the forefront and centered around the world. This is something that really excites him and all our kids. He created the All-Star team and now I’m sure he wants to go out there and show everyone he’s All-NBA.
What will be your biggest form of entertainment in case of downtime?
I go fishing. When I played in Orlando, I fished on the Disney property. I have been there in Orlando three years, so I had fished those lakes before. I will fish and read.
Those Florida lakes carry wide open sea bass. They have some of the best fishing in the country in Florida. Be it Lake Toho or Okeechobee or one of those lakes. It is possible to take a four or five pound bass in a rinky pond in Florida, because they are everywhere.
I can’t wait to finish my job, to meet and do things with the players, and I’m sure I will have time to make a joke from time to time.
