Suns coach right choice
Monty Williams’ open letter proves once again the Suns made correct hire
Monty Williams calling for change in America after the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests again shows the Phoenix Suns hired the right head coach. Williams has resolve, class and integrity — and represents the Suns the right way.
Monty Williams calling for change in America after the death of George Floyd and ensuing protests once again shows the Phoenix Suns hired the right head coach.
There’s no way Williams could have foreseen what has happened since the Suns named him head coach May 3, 2019:
❚ Nine new players
❚ Deandre Ayton’s 25-game suspension after opener
❚ Injuries
❚ Death of Kobe Bryant impacting a young team
❚ Coronavirus putting season on hold ❚ Floyd’s death and global reaction to
it
Williams has handled all that and more with resolve, class and integrity. He’s not perfect, has flaws, but has represented the Suns the right way.
“The Bible says to whom much is giv
en, much is expected,” Williams said in a media conference call on Tuesday. “That is always something that has been impressed upon me, from my mentors to studying the Bible. I know that I have this position, whether it’s encouraging players, encouraging kids who watch us, but more than anything, I don’t want to get 20 or 30 years from now, look my kids in the eyes and I say all I did was play and coach, you know what I’m saying.”
His latest action has been the most impactful to date.
Williams released “an open letter” through the organization Sunday, addressing the death of Floyd, a fellow African-American male who died Memorial Day after being pinned down by Derek Chauvin, a white Minnesota police officer who has since been charged with thirddegree murder and manslaughter.
Best move
Bleacher Report gave the Suns’ James Jones a C- in its grading of NBA general managers based on their personnel moves. However, there’s no mention of Jones’ best move.
Hiring Monty Williams.
Before the 2019-20 season, NBA GMs predicted Williams would have the biggest impact among “new or relocated” head coaches on their new teams. He received 43% of the votes, with Frank Vogel (Los Angeles Lakers) finishing second at 21%.
Williams has lived up to that, and not just by leading Phoenix to 26 wins, the most they’ve had since the 2014-15 season. His hiring gave Phoenix some muchneeded credibility because Williams is so respected in the NBA and beyond for his coaching and faith.
The Suns still had 17 games left before the 2019-20 season was put on hold March 11 after Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus. The NBA Board of Governors will reportedly vote Thursday to approve Commissioner Adam Silver’s proposal with a July 31 target date to continue the season.
Whether Phoenix’s season continues, based on which return format is approved, Williams has the Suns going in the right direction despite facing so many challenges throughout his first year on the job.
He first had to get back into the mode of being in charge after having last been a head coach in 2014-15 for New Orleans. This was also Williams’ first season as a head coach since his wife, Ingrid, died in a car accident in February 2016.
Williams took over a team coming off a 19-63 season, the second-worst in franchise history in Igor Kokoskov’s one season as head coach. He became Phoenix’s fifth head coach in as many seasons, but signed a five-year deal that signaled stability, something the Suns hadn’t had in that role.
‘Everything is on the other side of hard’
What Phoenix got was someone who created a new culture built on hard work, toughness, sharing the ball and playing with purpose.
“Everything is on the other side of hard,” he often says.
That challenges heart and character more than skill set or talent. Williams held his players to a higher standard, but he held himself and his staff just as accountable.
Then after Phoenix won the opener by 29 points over Sacramento at home, Williams lost his big man to a 25-game suspension.
Ayton tested positive for a diuretic, leaving Williams without his secondbest player for more than quarter of the season, but Phoenix still started 7-4 with huge wins over the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers.
Players play and ultimately determine the outcome, but coaches get fired for failing to win. Williams found a way to keep Phoenix competitive during Ayton’s suspension.
Then there’s the injuries that led to 15 different starting lineups, but Williams found different combinations and styles that suited the limited personnel he had.
All-star advocate for Booker
Williams also loudly advocated for Devin Booker to become an all-star for the first time.
He made sure people knew Booker’s willingness to play team ball, defend and do the little things to win.
This isn’t new for a coach, but Williams took the time to earn Booker’s trust. So, his praise took on greater meaning.
Then when Booker finally became a first-time all-star, be it as an injury replacement, no one was happier for him than his head coach.
Beyond that, Williams handled the team off the court to help build chemistry. The Suns had group activities and gatherings. His door swung open wide for communication.
Realizing he had the youngest team in the NBA going into the season, Williams preached discipline and hard work, but hugged and loved on them, too.
Voice of reason
The latter shined so true after the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash Jan. 26. The Suns played a game later that day in Memphis.
Williams not only hurt for himself, but probably even more for his players. Booker idolized Bryant. Ricky Rubio admires him. Most of the Suns grew up watching Bryant’s greatness. They took his passing to heart. Williams understood that and allowed them to mourn.
Williams served as a voice for his team and for the league on how to cope with the loss. He felt compelled to speak his mind and his words touched people beyond the team.
Then when the regular season was winding down, COVID-19 was starting to impact the season before Gobert’s test shut it down.
Williams again spoke out the need for affordable testing.
The virus led to almost a complete shutdown of America, but Williams continued to work. He had virtual meetings with his staff, kept in touch with players and monitored how the league was handling matters.
Now he’s become a voice of reason during times of major unrest in society and challenging America – from those with a huge platform to the common man – to change for the better.
Williams has risen to challenge after challenge in his first season in Phoenix and continues to prove the Suns made the right call in hiring him.