The passage of the Suns on the Spurs floor last night, which largely turned to the advantage of the Arizona players, gave rise to a reunion. Between Monty Williams on one side, “head coach” of Phoenix, and Brett Brown, assisting in San Antonio. The two men have the distinction of knowing each other for years, including a season together with the 76ers in 2018/19.
At the time, Brett Brown, head coach in Philadelphia, was the superior of Monty Williams, his assistant. ” He played an important role in my beginnings », notes the Suns technician today. Before Philadelphia, the former NBA player had had a first experience with Brett Brown, in San Antonio.
It was in 2005, when the latter made his debut as an assistant alongside Gregg Popovich. Monty Williams, passed by the Spurs during his playing career, started his transition from the floors to the benches of the league as an… unpaid intern. “ He’s the one who told Pop and RC (Buford): ‘I take care of him’. Brett was the man for the job. Couldn’t have had a better mentor “, remembers Monty Williams.
Reciprocal tributes
The following year, he was recruited by the Blazers for a classic assistant position. ” He was the one who helped me organize my environment from a basketball point of view. He had so many situations, so many systems and so many ways to organize what was going on in the gym. He simply has a unique basketball spirit “, pays tribute Monty Williams this time referring to their common year in Philly.
Just after this passage in Pennsylvania, the Suns offered him a new opportunity, after that made by the Pelicans a few years earlier.
” Where to start ? I’ve known Monty for 15-16 years now. Anyone who pays any attention understands that he belongs to the elite on a human level. He is an emerging coach, relatively young and who has an incredible relationship », thus delivered Brett Brown at the time of this appointment.
The latter was already predicting that this marriage between the Suns and the coach would lead to a ” fantastic partnership “. Subsequent events proved him right as he guided Chris Paul and the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals.” I guessed something big was about to happen. Where, when, how – who knows? When you’re with him during the time I spent with him, you remember how good he is. »
