By Le Figaro with AFP
Posted
,
Update
Monty Williams CHRISTIAN PETERSEN / AFP
Monty Williams was fired from his post as Phoenix coach, several American media said on Saturday, after the elimination of the Suns in the semi-finals of the NBA play-offs against Denver.
The Arizona franchise suffered a last crushing defeat Thursday at home against the Nuggets (125-100), whose coach of the year 2022 paid the price, according to ESPN and The Athletic, citing anonymous sources.
Despite the resounding transfer of superstar Kevin Durant in February to support Devin Booker, Phoenix lost its semi-final series 4 to 2 against Denver, the best record in the Western Conference at the end of the regular season.
According to ESPN, Suns owner Mat Ishbia decided on Saturday to sack Williams, who led the team to the 2021 NBA Finals – losing to the Bucks.
This is the second year in a row that Phoenix has come out of the play-offs at the semi-final stage, after the surprise elimination against Dallas in 2022.
Monty Williams, who recorded 194 wins for 115 losses in four years with the Suns, notably joins Nick Nurse (Toronto) and Mike Budenholzer (Milwaukee) on the list of coaches fired in recent weeks.