The Suns set NBA Twitter on fire on Saturday by firing Monty Williams after Phoenix's disappointing exit in the second round of the playoffs.
Monty Williams and the Suns are no more.
On Saturday, Phoenix took the bold step to enter the coaching carousel by firing Williams and looking for a new head coach to lead them to a championship.
The Suns were eliminated from the playoffs by the Nuggets on Thursday in a Game 6 blowout on their home court. With Kevin Durant and Devin Booker under contract, they have their eyes on the ultimate prize and new owner Mat Ishbia clearly didn't see Williams as the one to get them there.
NBA Twitter split on the Suns firing Monty Williams
Many on Twitter thought the Suns' decision was harsh considering all that Williams achieved as head coach. The consensus? It's a tough league.
Despite the list of accomplishments for Williams, Suns Twitter seemed to agree that it was time for the franchise to move on from Williams, who was criticized for his in-game management in the playoffs. The theme of appreciation flowed throughout.
Williams got the head coaching gig in Phoenix in 2019 after serving as an assistant with the 76ers, Thunder, Pelicans and Blazers over the previous decade and a half.
The Suns team Williams inherited went 19-63. In his first year with the team, Williams improved them to 34-39. He went on to lead the team to the playoffs each of the last three years, winning Coach of the Year honors in 2021 and 2022.
After rebuilding the team, Phoenix wanted Williams to elevate them to a championship. He got as close as a 4-2 series loss to the Bucks in 2021. Last year the Suns fell to the Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals in seven games. This year it was the Nuggets who sent them home in six games.
