NBA Twitter reacts as Suns fire Monty Williams: Best memes and tweets
![Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1bf0c13406bff39e9fcd2a3dfcdffdbedf8cd72d576b1bd8bca735a73787d241.jpg)
The Suns set NBA Twitter on fire on Saturday by firing Monty Williams after Phoenix’s disappointing exit in the second round of the playoffs.
Monty Williams and the Suns are no more.
On Saturday, Phoenix took the bold step to enter the coaching carousel by firing Williams and looking for a new head coach to lead them to a championship.
The Suns were eliminated from the playoffs by the Nuggets on Thursday in a Game 6 blowout on their home court. With Kevin Durant and Devin Booker under contract, they have their eyes on the ultimate prize and new owner Mat Ishbia clearly didn’t see Williams as the one to get them there.
NBA Twitter split on the Suns firing Monty Williams
Many on Twitter thought the Suns’ decision was harsh considering all that Williams achieved as head coach. The consensus? It’s a tough league.
Monty Williams had a 194-115 record in four seasons for a Suns franchise that went 87-241 the four years prior and gets fired.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) May 14, 2023
Man.
Suns gutted their roster to get KD and they made Monty Williams the fall guy for getting embarrassed by the #1 seed in the West in a closeout game.
— Colb (@___Colb___) May 14, 2023
Cold business.
monty williams and mike budenholzer were coaching against eachother in the nba finals 2 seasons ago and now they’re both unemployed
— Coach Rome (@Rome_Beast) May 14, 2023
nba head coach is an insane job https://t.co/bGUGA8aB9G
Despite the list of accomplishments for Williams, Suns Twitter seemed to agree that it was time for the franchise to move on from Williams, who was criticized for his in-game management in the playoffs. The theme of appreciation flowed throughout.
2 rough playoff exits for the Suns and they move on from Monty Williams. With new ownership at the helm it’s not a totally unexpected move https://t.co/260wQbYlMh
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) May 14, 2023
Tough break for Monty Williams. Back-to-back brutal playoff exits obviously played a factor, but he'll leave Phoenix 4th on the Suns' all-time regular-season wins list and 2nd on their all-time playoff wins list. Instrumental in helping turn this organization around
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) May 14, 2023
Very grateful for everything Monty Williams did for this franchise. Took the Suns to an NBA finals which is something that hasn’t been done in 30 years but it was also time to part ways. Thank you coach & wish you nothing but the best 🧡💜
— Brandon Awadis (@brawadis) May 14, 2023
Monty Williams is a great man. Helped changed the culture. Thank you for everything.
— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) May 14, 2023
It was time for a change… LETS GO
new HC
— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) May 14, 2023
depth around KD/Book
An owner who cares about winning
Suns are so back pic.twitter.com/gYBRa7nLnD
Williams got the head coaching gig in Phoenix in 2019 after serving as an assistant with the 76ers, Thunder, Pelicans and Blazers over the previous decade and a half.
The Suns team Williams inherited went 19-63. In his first year with the team, Williams improved them to 34-39. He went on to lead the team to the playoffs each of the last three years, winning Coach of the Year honors in 2021 and 2022.
After rebuilding the team, Phoenix wanted Williams to elevate them to a championship. He got as close as a 4-2 series loss to the Bucks in 2021. Last year the Suns fell to the Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals in seven games. This year it was the Nuggets who sent them home in six games.
3 teams that should try buying low on Jordan Poole. dark. Next