Sixers assistant Monty Williams interviews with Phoenix Suns owner for head-coaching job
This will be his second interview with the Suns.
Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver and general manager James Jones interviewed 76ers assistant coach Monty Williams for the Suns’ head-coaching position Wednesday.
This was Williams’ second interview with the team. He met with the Suns last week in Toronto.
Williams is one of the NBA’s most-sought-after head-coaching candidates. He’s also a finalist for the Los Angeles Lakers’ vacant coaching position. Williams has had two interviews for the Lakers job.
The Suns fired Igor Kokoskov after just one year as their coach. Phoenix finished with the second-worst record in the NBA, 19-63, and also had the Western Conference’s worst record for the third consecutive season.
Williams joined the Sixers’ coaching staff in June after two years in the San Antonio Spurs’ front office.
The Spurs job came after he spent the 2015-16 season as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He took a leave of absence after his wife, Ingrid, died in a car accident on Feb. 10, 2016, and after the season it was announced that Williams would not return.
Before going to Oklahoma City, he compiled a 173-221 record during five seasons as the New Orleans Pelicans’ head coach. Williams led New Orleans to postseason appearances, in 2011 and 2015. Before that, he spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Trail Blazers. He also was an assistant coach for the U.S. men’s national team from 2013-16.
Scott eager to play
Reserve center Greg Monroe is listed as probable and backup forward Mike Scott is questionable for Game 3 of the Sixers’ Eastern Conference semifinal series against Toronto on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center.
Monroe sprained his left ankle in Monday’s 94-89 Game 2 victory. Scott missed the first two series games with a heel contusion/plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Both players participated in Wednesday’s light practice. Scott worked with teammate Boban Marjanovic and staff members following practice. This came one day after his first on-court workout since injuring his heel in Game 5 of the Sixers’ opening-round series against the Brooklyn Nets on April 23.
Scott will get treatment at the team’s practice facility Thursday and participate in shooting drills. Then he’ll see how his heel feels.
“Very anxious,” he said of playing. “Can’t wait to play. Have to be smart, take care of your body, but ... yeah, very anxious.”