Booker, Okogie praise Williams ahead of preseason opener
Devin Booker is forever grateful to have been coached by Monty Williams.
“I could be here all day talking about Coach Mont and what he’s done for me as a person and what he’s done for my career,” Booker said after Thursday’s camp practice. “In search of stability through my career, I finally found it.”
Together, Booker and Williams were the cornerstones to the Phoenix Suns’ resurgence that started with an 8-0 bubble run their first season together in 2019-20. Then came a memorable ride to the 2021 NBA Finals that was followed by a franchise-best 64win 2021-22 season.
The Suns came up short of winning a championship and fired Williams after bowing out in the conference semifinals for a second straight year to end last season. The Detroit Pistons hired Williams to the richest contract for an NBA head coach – six years, $78.5 million.
Now Booker and Williams will once again see each other this weekend as the Suns open preseason play Sunday against the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
“Coach Mont did things and changed the culture around here like no one ever has,” Booker continued. “Big respect to Mont.”
Williams brought assistants from his last coaching staff in Phoenix – Jarrett Jack, Mark Bryant, Brian Randle, Steve Scalzi – to Detroit.
“I can’t wait to see the guys, J-Jack, everybody that I’ve been around,” Booker said. “MB. All those guys. It’s going to be fun.”
This is all part of a busy weekend planned for the Suns.
Jusuf Nurkic said the Suns were planning a team dinner while Booker alluded to visiting Suns team owner Mat Ishbia’s company, United Wholesale Mortgage, which is in Pontiac.
The billionaire Ishbia, who purcahsed the Suns midway through last season, is from Birmingham, Michigan.
“Show respect and love to him,” Booker said. “It’ll be fun.”
The Suns only have six players from last season’s team still on the roster: Kevin Durant, Damion Lee, Josh Okogie, Ish Wainright, Saben Lee and Booker.
Okogie spent just one year under Williams, but he connected with his former coach.
“Coach Mont helped me grow as a player and a person,” Okogie said. “When I broke my nose, he was the first one to call me. He was like, ‘Man, I hated that you did that. You were just getting rolling.’ He was excited about what I was doing on the court, you know. He said, ‘If you need anything, let me know. Take your time getting back.’ If I’m having a bad day or a bad game, he’s the first one saying, ‘Keep your head up young buck.’ That’s how he likes to talk.”
Like Booker, Okogie is looking forward to seeing Williams.
“Give him a hug, catch up a little bit, but we still mean business when we go over there,” Okogie said.
Okogie wasn’t really surprised Williams was fired, noting the Bucks let go of Mike Budenholzer two years after he coached the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship in the 2020-21 season when they beat the Suns in six games.
“Anything can happen, but I was a free agent at the time,” Okogie continued. “My concern to make sure I was straight, you feel me, but he’s in a better position. You see what he got?” Again. Six years, $78.5 million. “I wouldn’t be too mad if I was him,” Okogie said.
How about a loan?
“Coach, I need a piece of that,” a smiling Okogie concluded.