Suns Fans Should Celebrate Monty Williams, Return

The former Phoenix Suns coach makes his official return to the Valley.

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns are welcoming former coach Monty Williams back to the Valley for the first time since the firing him in May 2023. 

Williams - now coaching the Detroit Pistons - will also reportedly receive a tribute video at some point during the night. 

And rightfully so. 

Although the Williams tenure ended in an unfortunate fashion, he remains one of the best coaches in franchise history despite only coaching four seasons in Phoenix.

Williams took over a Suns franchise in 2019 that had not made the playoffs since 2010. A franchise that accrued a 326-478 record in that timeframe. A franchise that went from Alvin Gentry to Lindsey Hunter to Jeff Hornacek to Earl Watson to Jay Triano to Igor Kokoskov in the top chair. 

Williams took over a broken culture - one that was overrun by Robert Sarver's meddling and devious behavior. One that deployed a roster that was bogged down by troubling players such as Josh Jackson. 

He instantly led the Suns from a 19-63 record to a 34-39 finish in 2019-20, guiding the team through a rough season that was plagued by a league-wide shutdown and continued in the bubble in Orlando with much social unrest. 

Coach Williams was the ultimate leader through it all, showing a tenderness and compassion that not every coach is equipped to show. 

He also lead the Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993 and won Coach of the Year honors following the 64-18 finish in 2021-22.

Yes, there were things that lead to his ultimate demise. Two consecutive playoff collapses to the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets. The over reliance on rotation players that weren't consistently producing. The soured relationships with former players such as Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder, just to name a few. 

At the end of the day, the Suns are very unlikely to be in the position they are today without his contributions. 

Williams' return should be celebrated.