The Phoenix Suns fired head coach Monty Williams following the team’s stunning second-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets. Williams spent four seasons with the team, compiling a 194-115 record that included an NBA Finals appearance in 2021.
Williams has a reputation for being a solid player-coach around the NBA, but the 51-year old obviously wasn’t flawless in his time with the Suns. Thanks to Phoenix Sports Radio Talk Show host John Gambadoro, the NBA world is getting some new insight into Williams’ activity and coaching dynamics behind the scenes.
Apparently, the former Suns head coach had issues with some of his former players, including Suns big man Deandre Ayton. According to Gambadoro, Williams disliked coaching the 24-year old center and even wanted to trade him for Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner.
Per HoopsHype:
“As far as Deandre Ayton, Monty didn’t want him either. He wanted them to trade him to Indiana for Myles Turner. He didn’t like coaching Ayton. When Ayton signed his maximum contract when the Suns matched his offer sheet, Monty wasn’t even there and didn’t show up when Ayton signed it at the arena or call him to say congratulations. Monty’s a good coach and a player’s coach, but he’s a player’s coach for the players he likes, but he wasn’t in on Jae and Deandre.”
