Deandre Ayton Says He Has Not Spoken To Suns Coach Monty Williams Since Game 7 Against The Mavericks

Deandre Ayton says he hasn't spoken to Monty Williams in months.

3 Min Read

Credit: Rick Scuteri/USA Today Sports

During the Phoenix Suns’ media day on Tuesday, young big man Deandre Ayton shared some comments that could be hinting at a rift between him and Suns coach Monty Williams.

Williams, who was hired in 2019, was accused by fans of holding a grudge against Ayton after he mysteriously played just 17 minutes in a crucial playoff game. When asked to explain, he provided no real answer.

Williams responded sternly but didn’t give any insight, just stating that it was an ‘internal’ decision to have Ayton play the limited minutes that he did. Williams’ words suggest that he was not in favor of the decision, but had it imposed on him (5:35 onwards).

“It’s internal,” Williams said.

Things got worse over the summer when Ayton was still fighting for an extension. As trade rumors lingered, more and more details emerged about the pair’s relationship — a relationship that may still be not recovered.

According to Ayton himself, he hasn’t even spoken to coach Williams since Game 7 against the Mavericks, which is obviously a very poor sign of their relationship.

There definitely seems to be something going on there, and it’s only a matter of time before it gets exposed to some degree.


Monty Williams Has Denied He Has Anything Personal Against Deandre Ayton

If you ask Monty Williams for his perspective, he will deny that he has anything personal against Ayton.

“You know, I’ve heard all that stuff second and third-hand, all the narratives. The bottom line is I have to coach. All of our players will tell you that I coach everybody. When I have to make a move like that, it’s me calling them up,” Williams explained on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “It’s never personal, and I think DA said it best when he did an interview. Our relationship is calm. I’ve invested a lot of time into the player and the person. When I do something like that, it’s because I want what’s best for you. But I also have to try my best to hold everybody accountable at the same time. There are times when I wish could have handled things a little bit differently. I will take it myself.”

When it comes to basketball, people only have good things to say about Monty. His game plan, strategies, and way of communicating with players have really resonated with the guys.

Ayton may not have had as much success as some of his teammates in this system, but better days could be ahead for him if he goes out there and puts the past behind him.

But first, they will have to sit down and have a real conversation — which has obviously not happened yet.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Follow:
Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *