Detroit Pistons Fire Monty Williams, per Report

The Pistons tied an NBA record for most consecutive losses en route to posting the worst record in the league.

Mar 27, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Target Center. / Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Pistons have fired head coach Monty Williams, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday. The move comes less than one year after Williams signed a record-setting six-year, $78.5 million deal. Wojnarowski reports the coach has over $65 million remaining on that deal.

The decision comes after a historically bad season for Williams in Detroit. The Pistons hired the former Phoenix Suns coach to help develop the variety of young talent on the roster, but mostly to start finally winning games after four straight seasons of living in the NBA draft lottery. Williams failed to accomplish either goal.

The Pistons finished the 2023-24 season with 14 wins, worst in the league. They also infamously went through one of the worst stretches of basketball in NBA history, setting a record for most consecutive losses in a single season with 28 between October 30 and December 28. They share the all-time consecutive losses record with the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost 28 straight between the 2014-'15 and 2015-'16 seasons.

Williams is only the latest name to depart after the disastrous season. Earlier in the offseason the franchise hired Trajan Langdon as the new president of basketball operations and parted ways with general manager Troy Weaver shortly thereafter.

The Pistons hold the No. 5 pick in the 2024 NBA draft and are projected to be a major player in free agency with the second-most cap space available behind the Charlotte Hornets. Now they must find a new head coach as well.