The Phoenix Suns terminated the contract of Monty Williams, their head coach of four years, at the end of its 2023 season, following the team’s loss to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA playoffs. After being unemployed for several weeks, Williams is now the highest-paid coach in NBA history after signing a contract with the Detroit Pistons.
According to ESPN, Williams has agreed
to take on the head coaching position with the Pistons for a reported six-year, $78.5 million contract. The agreement is the largest coaching deal in NBA history.The 51-year-old former NBA player, who played for five different teams in his career, was fired in May after the Suns were beaten by the current Western Conference champions. They were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Williams is an NBA Coach of the Year who won the award back in 2022. He had a winning record
as a head coach with a total of 194 wins against 115 losses (.628) in regular season games. His playoff record for the Suns stands at 27-19. The team made it to the NBA Finals in 2021 and won a franchise-record 64 games in 2021-22.The Pistons are in need of guidance as they have not had a winning season for the past seven years. Their last winning season took place in 2015-16.
Williams played his collegiate career at Notre Dame from 1989 to 1994 before becoming an NBA first-draft pick in 1994 by the New York Knicks, who made him their 24th selection. He played for the Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs, the Denver Nuggets, the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers during his athletic career.
He started his head coaching career when he took the reins for the New Orleans Hornets in 2010; he lost that job in 2015 and began coaching the Suns in 2019 until being fired in May.
Williams replaces former head coach Dwane Casey, who stepped down in April to take a position in the front office.