Ranking 8 coaching candidates for 76ers to finally finish ‘The Process’
By Tyler Watts
2. Monty Williams
The Suns shockingly fired Monty Williams after their second-round playoff exit to the Denver Nuggets. New owner Mat Ishbia made the call, but it was surprising given that Williams helped turn the franchise around. They had not made the playoffs since 2010 before he arrived, and the 51-year-old had the Suns in the NBA Finals in 2021. They were up 2-0 on the Bucks before Milwaukee stormed back to win the championship.
Monty won Coach of the Year in 2022 as his Suns had the best regular season record in the NBA, but life can come at you fast in the coaching world. Williams was let go because Phoenix exited back-to-back years in the second round of the playoffs.
He entered the Suns’ job with clear principles, and they shined through. The Sixers would benefit from his philosophy. Williams demands his team defend, compete, share the ball, and play with gratitude. He implemented a complicated pick-and-roll system that the league struggled to figure out, and Williams could have a few specific tricks in his bag for the Sixers’ personnel.
Monty Williams is close friends with Doc Rivers, so it would be odd to see him replace the legendary coach. Still, Williams is one of the top coaches on the market, and he would certainly bring some fresh offensive ideas to Philly that could help unlock Joel Embiid and Sixers.