As his team gathered together for a morning shootaround, Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams offered a message.
Why wouldn’t he? The Suns were about to play in the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, the franchise’s first Finals’ appearance in 28 years and the first for the majority of the Suns’ coaches and players.
Williams found no need, however, to deliver a fiery speech or offer another detailed scouting report. Instead, Williams told his players, “Go hoop; ya’ll know what to do.”
Not only did that moment capture how Williams made the Suns feel trusted to ensure a 1-0 Finals lead over Milwaukee entering Game 2 on Thursday. The moment also revealed how Williams has evolved in his second season with Phoenix after previously serving a head-coaching stint with the New Orleans Pelicans (2010-2015).
“Mine was probably a lot of insecurity, trying to show what I knew and prove it as opposed to just coaching,” Williams said. “That probably ruffled feathers.”
