Phoenix Suns Honor Pistons’ Monty Williams With Tribute Video

For the first time, Monty Williams coached an NBA game at Footprint Center against the Phoenix Suns as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

Heading into the matchup, Williams was understandably emotional about his return, considering he spent several seasons making Phoenix his home — and helping build the Suns into the strong competitor they are today.

“It is just a different deal because of the relationships here, the people I got to work with and coach, where I was at the time, getting an opportunity to come here and coach, the partnership I had with the players here, in particular Devin (Booker),” Williams told reporters, per Insider the Suns.

“Then, the stuff that happened off the floor with my family, I thought about it last night when we were going to the hotel. You see the hospital where your child was treated, then when we left my wife had a situation, all that stuff was a part of the journey. I just think about how blessed I was to coach here in this city, coach this team, and all that stuff that happened here was a huge treat for me and my family. I just have a great sense of gratitude, then there is the competitiveness that comes out. I woke up and did my study time, then got right to work.”

To no surprise, the Suns honored Williams with a tribute video before the game tipped off.

Phoenix Honors Monty Williams

nice touch from the Suns — a pregame welcome back video for former head coach Monty Williams ahead of tonight’s game against the Pistons @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/sjbmExr1Pq
— Lina Washington (@LWashingtonTV) February 15, 2024

Prior to his run in Detroit and Phoenix, Williams had multiple stops as an assistant and a head coach. Beginning his coaching career in 2005, Williams got his start with the Portland Trail Blazers. After five seasons, he moved to New Orleans to hold a head coaching position for five years.

Moving on from the Pelicans, Williams took up assistant jobs with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers before landing his job with the Suns in 2019. At the time, the Suns were a young squad trying to find its way in the West. After a 34-39 season in Williams’ first year in charge, the Suns put together a 51-21 record the following year and made a run to the NBA Finals.

Unfortunately, Phoenix lost the title that year and never made their way back to the NBA’s biggest stage. Following his fourth year in charge, Williams found himself on the outs following a second-straight second-round exit in the postseason.

Now coaching the Pistons, Detroit hopes Williams can bring the same quality of work to the table as he joined a rebuilding roster. Seeing what he accomplished with a Suns team that was recognized as one of the NBA’s bottom-feeders just a few seasons ago, the Pistons are highly invested in the head coach.