Phoenix Suns entlassen Head Coach Monty Williams

The Phoenix Suns have reacted to the disappointing playoff elimination in the second round. Coach Monty Williams has to resign after four years in Arizona.

The Suns announced this in a statement. “Monty has been an important factor in our success over the past few years,” GM James Jones is quoted as saying. “We are eternally grateful to Monty for what he has done for the Suns and the Valley community.”

Jones also spoke of a “difficult decision”, which, in contrast to the report by Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN) who reports that new owner Mat Ishbia arranged for Williams to be fired.

In four years, the Suns won almost 63 percent of their games (194-115), and Williams was voted Coach of the Year in 2021-22. In 2021, Phoenix reached the finals, but lost 2-4 to the Milwaukee Bucks after leading 2-0. In the past two years, there have been disappointments in the second round.

Last year, the Suns lost to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 by 33 points, and this year the Denver Nuggets were beaten in an elimination game in their own hall, even though Phoenix had acquired Kevin Durant via trade in February.

According to Marc Stein (Substack) the Suns already have a favorite to succeed Williams. Accordingly, the Suns are examining whether it is possible to lure Clippers coach Ty Lue to Arizona.