When Monty Williams signed a six-year contract with the Detroit Pistons in the summer of 2023, he was supposed to lead the rebuilding of the traditional franchise. But after just one year, it’s all over again
As the usually well-connected NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN) reported on Wednesday, the Detroit Pistons have fired their head coach Monty Williams. Prior to that, there had also been personnel changes in the front office after a disappointing season.
At the end of May, Trajan Langdon was given the reins as the new team president, and shortly afterwards the previous general manager Troy Weaver had to vacate his post. The decision to install new personnel on the sidelines has now apparently been made by the owners. Langdon now has the opportunity to hire a new coach himself.
Williams signed an extremely lucrative contract in Detroit just a year ago. The six-year contract worth 78.5 million dollars was the largest contract ever signed by a head coach in the NBA at the time. Since then, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra have received new, even more lucrative deals. However, Williams’ contract now has five years and, according to Wojnarowski, more than 65 million dollars left on it.
Detroit Pistons: Only 14 wins in 82 games
The 52-year-old was already criticized over the course of last season, as there was hardly any discernible development of the Detroit squad. The Pistons finished the regular season with just 14 wins and 68 defeats, the worst record in the NBA.
The former professional previously worked as head coach for the New Orleans Hornets and Pelicans respectively, as well as the Phoenix Suns. He reached the 2021 NBA Finals with the Suns, in which Phoenix fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. He was also named Coach of the Year in 2022
