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.
Deandre Ayton says he and Suns coach Monty Williams have not spoken since Game 7 vs. Dallas.
(via @GeraldBourguet) pic.twitter.com/i4Ql5CGMCS
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 27, 2022
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.
