After being laughed at, criticized and ridiculed recently, the Phoenix Suns are on the right path back to one important thing, respect.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to me, er the Phoenix Suns. After being the joke of the league for way too long, they’re on the right path back to respect.
Since the season ended, Igor Kokoskov has been fired, Monty Williams and Jeff Bower have been hired and James Jones has been officially promoted to full-time GM. The franchise is beginning to build a new image and culture, one that will lead them back to one important thing that has been sorely missing and with it, wins will follow.
A connection will help in the coaching staff and front office. Bower knows Williams from his time in New Orleans and Jones played for the Blazers when Williams was an assistant there. There’s a triangle in play, you could say.
The continuity criticism was heard as the Suns made Monty’s deal a five-year contract.
The team got their man, as he was their clear favorite since their head coach search began. Jones proved he can pick a man and get him here, he can land his top guy. Let’s hope he can do that in free agency as well.
The Suns beat out the rival Lakers as well and any time you do that, it’s a win.
All of this together made bringing in Bower and hiring Williams huge accomplishments for Phoenix.
I really liked Kokoskov but one issue he no doubt had was he was too calm and he didn’t clearly have the player’s attention or respect. That was going to be one big factor in the team’s search for their next head coach. He needed to be authoritative and Monty answers the call.
He’s one of the most well-respected coaches in the NBA. He’ll get along with the players but he will command that locker room. When need be, he’ll get it into it for his players, something that you sadly couldn’t say with certainty about Igor.
Former Sun Jared Dudley had a nice note on Monty, per Arizona Sports.
"“His leadership skills, accountability skills — when he walks in he’s a leader of men.”"
Leadership and accountability are two very needed skills to provide for this young team. They still need veterans on the roster but Williams will definitely be a solid mentor as well as coach.
A competitive, winning culture is being built. Respect is being gained back. The Phoenix Suns are on the right path forward and things should go up from here. Al McCoy isn’t getting any younger, let’s give him something to be excited about again.