Suns fire head coach Monty Williams after 4 seasons

The Phoenix Suns fired Monty Williams on Saturday, two years after reaching the NBA Finals and a year after he was the overwhelming choice as the coach of the year.

Williams had great success in his four regular seasons in Phoenix, winning 63 per cent of his games. But three consecutive years of playoff frustration was likely too much for the Suns to overlook — especially after two straight years of Phoenix trailing by 30 points at halftime of elimination games at home.

ESPN and The Athletic first reported the decision.

"Monty has been foundational to our success over the past four seasons," said James Jones, the Suns' president of basketball operations and general manager. "We are filled with gratitude for everything Monty has contributed to the Suns and to the Valley community."

Jones also said he made the decision to fire Williams.

Thank you, Monty. <br><br>“We are filled with gratitude for everything Monty has contributed to the Suns and to the Valley community."<br>- President of Basketball Operations and General Manager James Jones <a href="https://t.co/PMmZ6JkqAy">pic.twitter.com/PMmZ6JkqAy</a>

The Suns had a 2-0 lead in the 2021 NBA Finals, only to lose in six games. They lost in the second round in each of the last two seasons, both times in an embarrassing home finale — last year to Dallas, this year to Denver.

"Neither day feels good," Williams said after the loss earlier this week to Denver, when asked to compare last season's debacle to this year's season-ending loss.

Saturday likely didn't feel good, either.

It's the second major move made by the Suns in the three months or so since new owner Mat Ishbia closed the sale that gave him control of the club. In February, Ishbia green-lighted a blockbuster trade