Sources – Suns fire coach Monty Williams after 4 seasons

The Phoenix Suns fired their head coach, Monty Williams, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski Saturday night.

Williams had a 194-115 record in four seasons with the Suns and won the NBA Coach of the Year award last season after Phoenix won 64 games. In 2021, he helped guide the franchise to its first NBA Finals appearance in nearly 20 years.

However, the team has taken a step back in the playoffs in the seasons since, failing to advance beyond the second round. New Suns owner Matt Ichpia made the decision to fire Williams two days after the Suns lost in the Western Conference semi-finals to the Denver Nuggets in six games.

Ishbia, which bought the team in December, made an early shock with the blockbuster acquisition of Kevin Durant at the February trade deadline. However, a sprained ankle sidelined Durant for all but eight preseason games, and both Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton suffered injuries during the playoffs.

The Suns season ended with a 125-100 defeat at the hands of the Nuggets, Phoenix’s second playoff loss in as many years. Williams took responsibility for the defeat after the Denver game.

“I take it personally that I’m not getting our team ready to play in the biggest game of the year,” Williams said. “This is something I’m proud of, and it didn’t happen… This is something I have to take a deep look at, everything I do.”

Phoenix will compete with the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks, who are also going into the summer with vacant head coaching positions, as the search for a replacement for Williams begins.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.