Tag: Monty Williams

Nets’ Mikal Bridges defends Monty Williams after being fired by Suns

Nets’ Mikal Bridges recently defended his former coach, Monty Williams, in a recent appearance on “The Pivot” podcast.

Brooklyn Nets wing Mikal Bridges now calls Brooklyn his home, but it doesn’t mean that he leaves his relationships from his Phoenix Suns days on the back-burner. After the Suns lost Game 6 of their second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in embarrassing fashion, an ending that occurred for the second consecutive season, Williams was let go at the direction of new owner Mat Ishbia.

Williams coached in Phoenix for four seasons and as a result, coached Bridges for 3.5 seasons before the Suns traded Bridges and others for Kevin Durant. Williams admitted sometime after the trade that Bridges being traded made him emotional which shows the connection that exists between Williams and Bridges.

In addition, Bridges blossomed as a player under Williams as the former Villanova Wildcat went from being just a 3-and-D type of player to being a guy who could be a vital part of a team’s offense as well as defense. Bridges recently made an appearance on “The Pivot” podcast and he discussed Williams being fired and gave his thoughts on Williams and the situation:

“I feel like Monty (Williams) is one of them guys just like, I know he’ll be okay. Obviously, it’s gonna hurt, like I’m not no damn robot, like obviously, that (expletive) hurts. But, like, I’ll be okay and I think Monty is the same way. A lot of adversity, a lot of things he’s been through like this is another part of it and he’s just gonna get through it and he knows he’s a hell of a coach.”

[lawrence-related id=53645,53642,53638]

Notre Dame’s all-time NBA first round draft picks

It’s been a while since the Irish have had someone called in the NBA draft’s first round…

It hasn’t happened since NBA draft night in 2015 when Jerian Grant was taken in the top-20 by the New York Knicks but it could very well be changing in a matter of months.

Notre Dame freshman guard [autotag]Blake Wesley[/autotag] appears headed to the NBA draft after just one season with the Fighting Irish.  We can debate for hours if the move is the wisest for him but in doing so, he’ll likely become Notre Dame’s 21st former player to have his name called in the first round.

Who are some of the others?  Check out the list of every single Notre Dame basketball player to be selected in the NBA draft’s first round all-time below.

3 reasons why Monty Williams makes sense to be Sixers’ new head coach

Here are three reasons why Monty Williams makes a ton of sense to be the new head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers are n the process of looking to find a new head coach after moving from Doc Rivers after three seasons at the helm. The Sixers won a ton of games, but they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals three seasons in a row.

The new coach is going to have to come in and now help the Sixers move forward on their title quest. Philadelphia possesses a ton of talent, but they just haven’t been able to get over the hump that is Round 2 at the moment.

Monty Williams, who was fired by the Phoenix Suns after a 194-115 record in four seasons, is one of the names being reported as a candidate in Philadelphia. Here are three reasons why Williams makes a lot of sense to be the new head man for the Sixers:

Ranking the reported possible coaching candidates for Sixers’ vacancy

Here is a ranking of the reported possible coaching candidates to become the next head man for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking for a new head man after firing Doc Rivers on Tuesday. Rivers held the job for three seasons and led the Sixers to a great deal of success, but three consecutive eliminations in the conference semifinals did him in.

The Sixers face what should be a lengthy coaching search. They must decide which coach is the best option to help Joel Embiid and, possibly, James Harden take the next step in the playoffs.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, quite a few candidates will be considered for the position. Assistant Sam Cassell is among them, and the following is a ranking of the six names that have been reported for the job:

Notre Dame alumnus Monty Williams dismissed as Phoenix Suns coach

Was this the right call?

Success in the recent past seems to be mattering less and less in the NBA. For at least some teams, it doesn’t matter what you did a few years ago if you’re not getting the job done now. The Phoenix Suns showed they subscribe to that philosophy when The Athletic reported that they have fired former Notre Dame player [autotag]Monty Williams[/autotag] as coach. Williams was the 2022 Coach of the Year, and he took the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals.

Williams joins the ranks of NBA coaches who have lost their jobs recently despite doing great things not long ago. The Toronto Raptors ousted Nick Nurse even though he led them to the 2019 championship. Mike Budenholzer, who coached [autotag]Pat Connaughton[/autotag] and the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2021 title, also was handed his walking papers. These moves should put almost every coach in the league on notice about what can happen if their team underachieves.

Hopefully, Williams isn’t out of the NBA for long. He has too good of a resume for teams with coaching vacancies not to at least look at him. He’s a good guy, too. Who wouldn’t want that on their bench?

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Suns’ Monty Williams cried after Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson trade to Nets

Monty Williams shed tears after Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson were traded to the Nets.

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams ‘cried’ after he found out that Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson were being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the Kevin Durant, according to a recent story by ESPN’s Nick Friedell. On Feb. 9, Bridges and Johnson were traded to the Brooklyn Nets along with draft picks for Durant and TJ Warren.

After the trade was done, Bridges and Johnson communicated the same level of disappointment to match Williams, especially since all three of them had a good connection with each other. Bridges and Johnson had grown to love being in Phoenix and embraced the Suns’ fanbase.

It looks like the arrangement has worked out for both franchises as the Nets have two promising young players along with draft picks to make something happen while the Suns got the superstar they need to make their championship push. However, no matter how successful Phoenix is in this postseason and in future seasons, it looks like Williams will always have love for the “Twins” as Phoenix center De’Andre Ayton called the duo of Bridges and Johnson for how close they are.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fv0185pfxtewh01r player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=]

[lawrence-related id=53191,53180,53176]

Monty Williams shows gratitude for Thunder honoring late wife Ingrid Williams’ birthday

“I think in situations like this, it’s good to give gratitude and be grateful for good people and they do really, really cool things.”

Before his pregame media availability concluded, Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams had something to get off his chest.

Sunday would’ve marked the 52nd birthday of Williams’ late wife Ingrid. Ingrid Williams died in a car accident in Oklahoma City on Feb. 10, 2016.

At the time, Williams was an assistant coach on head coach Billy Donovan’s staff for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

To honor her memory, the Thunder left her old seats vacant during the Suns’ 128-118 win.

“Years ago, my family and I had a really tough, tough life change here,” Williams said. “We lost my wife here in the city. This city, and in particular, this organization, wrapped their arms around me and my family and they continue to do so led by Sam Presti, the ownership here and people like Ayana Lawson.”

“Today would’ve been my wife’s birthday,” Williams continued. “They chose to honor my wife today by not allowing anybody to sit in her seat. When I found out this morning, it really messed me up because it really speaks to how blessed I am to do what I do and work for the people I work for and know the people I know and how much they care.”

“Sam has been really consistent over the past few years on any day — whether it’s her birthday or kids’ or something along those lines. For them to do that today, really speaks to this organization, this city,” Williams continued. “Through a tough, tough time, God has blessed me and my kids. And we’re here and we’re still rolling and a lot of it is because of good people like Sam and Ayana and people in this organization and the city.”

“I just wanted to make sure they were recognized for that,” Williams said. “It’s kinda hard not to make it a public thing, but I think in situations like this, it’s good to give gratitude and be grateful for good people and they do really, really cool things.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Monty Williams thinks it’s time for Thunder fans to move on from booing Kevin Durant

“I hope someday that they can appreciate him.”

Heading into Sunday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, the safe bet was for Kevin Durant to get a mix of cheers and boos in his first game in OKC since Nov. 2021.

With more than six years passing and the Thunder entering a new phase of their franchise centered around the young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Josh Giddey, it felt like enough time had passed to turn wounds into scars.

Welp, that theory was quickly proven wrong. Durant received heavy boos from the crowd during starting lineup introductions. A juxtaposition to Chris Paul’s friendly cheers.

The disdain was amplified throughout the entire game, as the crowd loudly booed in unison every time the basketball touched Durant’s hands. It was the most passion the Thunder faithful has shown this season.

After nearly seven years since Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors, it’s evident time still has some work to do to heal this wound.

That is confusing for Suns head coach Monty Williams, who spent the 2015-16 season in OKC as an assistant.

Following the Suns’ win, Williams spoke about how he thinks it’s time for fans to move on from Durant’s departure all these years later.

“I’m still surprised about (why) so many people boo him here. I don’t understand that. This fan base is one that I respected for a long time. I get it, you lose a guy like Kevin, but I think, at some point, you have to appreciate what he meant to this organization. I know how tough it is to lose players because I’ve been in that position before when (the New Orleans Hornets) lost Chris (Paul). He loves this city. He knows what Sam (Presti) and this organization meant to him. I hope someday that they can appreciate him. I know it’s not everybody, but when you hear that, it’s like, man — I know it’s the environment that we’re in today but I just feel for him. I know these people. I lived here and I know what they meant to me and my family. I just feel for him because I know he’s got nothing but love for these people. He just made a decision.”

Perhaps Williams is right. But the majority of Thunder fans disagree with the sentiment. At this point, it’s hard to see fans fully embrace Durant again, but perhaps there could be a middle ground where his contributions — both on and off the court — can be appreciated it.

For now though, as long as Durant is an active player, I think it’s fair to assume he’ll be greeted with boos whenever he plays in OKC. Just like it’s fair to assume the No. 35 will hang in the rafters one day.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Monty Williams blamed himself after a deflating Suns’ loss where they handed out 36 free throws

A classy response from Williams, even if it won’t help his shorthanded team much.

By this time next month, with a hopefully healthy Kevin Durant back in the fold, the Phoenix Suns might be a vaunted NBA title contender romping its way through the postseason.

But, for now, Phoenix has lost four of its last five games while treading water in the logjammed Western Conference standings. Sunday might have been the Suns’ recent low point when they lost a 124-120 battle with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s (40 points) Oklahoma City Thunder.

The loss might have been especially deflating considering that Phoenix was in control for most of the matchup, even holding a 10-point lead with just about 10 minutes remaining. But the Thunder would eventually pull away … largely thanks to 36 free throw attempts.

After the game, Suns head coach Monty Williams kept his assessment concise.

Rather than pointing fingers at anyone else, he blamed himself for Phoenix’s shortcomings, especially regarding foul discipline:

Indeed, Williams has a point. If Devin Booker has 46 points, you expect the Suns to win, even if they don’t have Durant. But the Suns, as constituted without Durant, don’t have much margin for error.

They’ll just have to improve with general team discipline and, at the very least, float above water until their lead talisman returns. Williams admirably taking accountability for his players will only work for so long — the on-court results have to start filing in again.

Rockets coach Stephen Silas balances basketball with grieving

“I kind of didn’t want the game to end,” a grieving Stephen Silas said with a slight smile after watching his #Rockets defeat Phoenix. “Now, it is like real life starts up again.”

HOUSTON — As the news made its way around the media workroom that Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas would return to the bench on Tuesday night, no one knew how to react.

He had been away from the team for two days since it was announced his father, NBA legend Paul Silas, had passed away. It is hard to tell how an individual grieves, especially one as close to his father as Silas was. He made his mark in the NBA coaching ranks by working alongside his father for three organizations during the elder Silas’ time as a head coach.

“It’s hard; it’s really hard. It took a lot to come for this (media availability), this part,” Silas said during his pregame press conference. The basketball part is like riding a bike. This part is tough.”

After his media session, Silas took a long sigh but walked out with his signature smile he has flashed since being introduced as the Rockets’ head coach in 2020. It may have been his way of coping and dealing with losing one of his closest friends.

Once Tuesday’s game began against the Phoenix Suns, it was back to business as usual for Silas. He helped orchestrate a plan for his young team to keep point guard Chris Paul from taking control of the game in the absence of Devin Booker. Houston beat Phoenix, 111-97, to secure its fifth straight home win.

As the game concluded, Silas was met by Suns head coach Monty Williams at midcourt. Most coaches shake hands, share a couple of words with each other and move on.

Williams knew this situation, however, would require more, and he did the same thing for Silas that other coaches and players did for him. Williams had taken a break in 2016 after his wife died in a tragic car accident.

The two coaches embraced one another, and it was clear Williams could feel the pain and hurt that ran through Silas’ body.

Silas made his way off the court as the customary streamers came down from the Toyota Center rafters after the Rockets won the game, and he knew it was time to face reality. He started his postgame press conference in the same fashion as he had earlier, with a long sigh.

“I kind of didn’t want the game to end,” Silas said with a slight smile. “Now it is like real life starts up again.”

[lawrence-related id=108172,108157]

[mm-video type=video id=01gm2qk0ffbvhp1nr7kd playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gm2qk0ffbvhp1nr7kd/01gm2qk0ffbvhp1nr7kd-e39bd866b0a454450dc707395ad54cc4.jpg]

[listicle id=108164]