Former Suns HC Monty Williams' Decision to Coach Pistons Reaches Far Beyond Basketball

Tough times make tough people, and former Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams embodies that.

© Brian Bradshaw Sevald-USA TODAY Sports

The Phoenix Suns no longer employ the services of head coach Monty Williams, but new beginnings are on the horizon for the former NBA Coach of the Year after inking a deal with the Detroit Pistons to make him the highest paid coach in league history. 

It's been a rough time for Williams - as it would for anybody that was fired after Phoenix lost in the second round of the postseason. Yet Williams revealed during his introductory press conference in Detroit that his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer during the postseason. 

When the Pistons initially reached out, Williams declined. Yet after some terrific news on his better half's behalf, the two sides reconnected and struck a deal.

“I had a situation, personally, in my family that needed attention. I talked to my wife today about whether or not we should talk about that publicly, but that was a huge part of my decision-making. The patience that Troy (Weaver) and Mr. Gores (Pistons owner Tom Gores) had with me as we navigated that told me a lot," said Williams.

"The reason that I bring it up is to not talk about my family, but to make it more of an emphasis that women need early-detection testing. "We had genetic testing done and then scan after scan after scan and then we found it early, and that may have saved my wife's life. It can save others."

The Athletic said Detroit's pursuit of Williams went far beyond the basketball court. 

"It was important to Gores and Weaver, who worked with Williams in Oklahoma City, that the organization put Williams’ family situation first in pursuing him," wrote James L. Edwards III. 

"They gave him time to make a decision on whether he wanted to coach next season. They helped him research schools for his young children. Additionally, some of the perks provided to Williams include access to a health and welfare fund, per league sources, which gives Williams and his family access to money to cover any medical expenses that might not be covered by insurance.

"On top of that, per league sources, Williams has anytime access to a private jet in case he needs to be closer to his wife, whose doctor is in Phoenix."

Williams drew many people to his favor here in the Valley thanks to his success on the court, but also the sort of person he was in front of the microphone and away from basketball. Suns fans were proud to call him a coach, and though he's now gone, there's plenty of Phoenix fans cheering him on during his next chapter.