Bridges finally gets to be coached by Williams
Player, coach were nearly paired in Philly via draft
Monty Williams is still getting to know his players. The newest Suns head coach sent out some introductory texts after being hired earlier this month, but he likes to do the bulk of his get-toknow-you conversations in person.
"We're gonna break bread and talk," Williams said. "This generation is so different. They InstaTweet and FaceFam – they've got all these things they do that they'd much rather do that than talk on the phone. But we're going to spend time together. That's a gift."
Williams was either joking, or he knows about some new social-media platforms that we haven't heard of yet. Regardless, he does know how young this team is and is eager to connect. Now that he's in Phoenix, he has started doing so.
Mikal Bridges and George King both watched Williams' introductory press conference in the pavilion of Talking Stick Resort Arena on Tuesday. It's not the first time Bridges has thought about what it will be like to play for the coach.
For 38 minutes last June, Bridges thought he was going to be coached by Williams. Bridges, a Philadelphia native, had been drafted by the 76ers before he was traded to the Suns. Eleven months later, their paths have synced again, something they joked about in recent text conversations.
"We just laughed cause he just thought that I was going to be there with him this year," Bridges said. "He was like, 'I thought I had you this year.' But things happened, I got traded, but it's cool to have him here."
Bridges' mom, Tyneeha Rivers, who works for the Sixers, also knows Williams. Bridges said his prior relationship with Williams wasn't too deep given the quick trade, but he's glad to now have some actual time with him.
"He said he's really excited and can't wait to work," the forward said. "And me too. I'm very excited. I'm happy he's here."
Williams' impressions are early, but he said Bridges reminded him of former player Michael Cooper, a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also joked that Bridges wouldn't know who Cooper is. Bridges refuted that.
"I do! He said that, but I think somebody told me that years ago," said Bridges, who is mulling over the idea of getting high socks or short shorts to fulfill the parallel.
He also knows Cooper was known for his defense, snagged the league's Defense Player of the Year Award in 1987, nine years before Bridges was born. "See, I like that," Bridges said.
The fact that Williams can quickly cite past players and add historical references tells Bridges that the 47-year-old is a players' coach. Williams detailed in his press conference how he has evolved in his methods to be more empathetic with his players. That doesn't mean he'll take it easy on them. He described how this summer will be "a war of attrition," and that the team can't wait until October to change the culture.
Bridges is spending most of his summer in Phoenix, as opposed to working out in Philadelphia. That will give him more time to meet Williams' standards and could potentially give his mom a chance to catch up with her former coworker. Bridges went back to visit family on the East Coast, so it's up to them to come west for the next few months.
"I take my summers real seriously, and my family knows that," he said. "So if they want to come see me, they'll come visit. But other than that, I'm here, working out all the time and getting ready."