Phoenix Residents Give Their Take on Monty Williams’ Departure and the Suns Coaching Search.
By: Aryton Temcio
On May 15, the Phoenix Suns moved on from head coach Monty Williams after four years with the team. Williams first came into the media spotlight when in his first season, he coached the Suns to an 8-0 record in the 2020 NBA Bubble, changing the culture of a team who held the worst record in the league the season before he got there.
Monty Williams now leaves Phoenix as the most successful coach in franchise history, in just four years he became the 2022 NBA Coach of the Year, the highest winning percentage for a Suns coach, and obtained an NBA Finals appearance.
Although his resume is nearly impeccable for a four-year stint, fans of the team are ready for a change after the Suns came up short of a championship once again.
“He’s a great coach, with great core values,” said Jason Weston. “But they fell flat on their face two years in a row.”
The decision to move on from Williams was made shortly after another embarrassing loss at home in the playoffs. New Suns owner and multi-millionaire Mat Ishbia, who took control of the team only three months prior, was the one who pulled the trigger.
In the modern NBA, the increase in head coaching turnover has given coaches less time than ever to get a championship ring. In Williams’ case, you can overachieve in almost every statistical category but still find yourself justifiably without a job.
“I’m not surprised he was fired,” said Curtis Rawlins, a student at Arizona State. “I don’t think he underachieved, look at where the Suns are now.”
The decision to part ways with the 2022 Coach of the Year is final, and as Williams mulls other offers, the Suns are now tasked with finding his replacement.
According to John Gambodoro of Arizona Sports, “The Phoenix Suns have narrowed their head-coaching search to Doc Rivers, Frank Vogel and Kevin Young as they prepare to fill the vacancy left by the firing of Monty Williams.”
Doc Rivers, who was recently fired by the Philadelphia 76ers is a proven coach who has held multiple head coaching positions in the past 20 years. Same with former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogul, who coached them to a championship in 2020. The unknown name on the list is Kevin Young, who was the assistant coach to Monty Williams for the past three years.
All three of the Suns’ options come with their pros and their cons, splitting fans into a debate on who they want to take over.
Hector Soto, a construction worker in Downtown Phoenix is not a fan of hiring the assistant to the coach who was just fired because he believes the same problems seen in Williams will prevail in Young.
The Suns have yet to make their decision which has fans hoping for the potential release of Los Angeles Clippers coach Ty Lue, or Golden State Assistant Kenny Atkinson.
Jason Weston said he hopes for Kenny Atkinson because he, “comes from a winning culture.”
Unfortunately for Weston, Kenny Atkinson and Ty Lue both have shown no intention of leaving their current jobs, and the Suns have no more time to wait.
Owner Mat Ishbia and the Suns are close to picking a new head coach as Gambodoro reports “A decision could be made by the end of the week.”