Emotional Monty Williams secures 1st win as Suns head coach

Well, that didn’t take long.

Dominating the Sacramento Kings 124-95 in the Suns’ season opener Wednesday night, Monty Williams notched his first win as Phoenix’s head coach.

But it wasn’t just about the victory for Williams.

“It’s a cool time for me, a lot of firsts,” Williams said after the game. “First time I’ve done this without (my wife) Ingrid, and that was just different. A lot of emotions, a lot of good stuff. So thankful my kids were there tonight for the whole game. They got to see that and so glad I got to do that with the group.”

Tonight's win meant a little something extra. pic.twitter.com/TiKqSPDQwM

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 24, 2019

For Williams, the win carries more weight than just a tally in the win column, having sealed the victory without his wife of more than 20 years, who tragically passed away in 2016, by his side.

“He told us he had other jobs on the table that he could have [taken], but he saw something special in this team and this group,” Suns guard Devin Booker said when asked if he could tell how much the win meant to his head coach. “We 100% believe in him, we 100% have faith in him and you feel that same energy from him. Congratulations on his first win in Phoenix. It feels good, it feels good.”

And with Williams’ first win as a member of the Suns, Booker handed out the last assist of the night, giving his head coach the game ball.

Discipline. Effort. Together. pic.twitter.com/oW6fOhR16Y

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 24, 2019

“That was special, that was real special,” Suns center Deandre Ayton said. “It was [emotional], but it wasn’t that emotional, that’s history. It means a lot and him being our head coach, somebody with experience to teach us and put us in our place correctly.”

But while the win feels good, it’s back to work for Williams and Co. as the head coach looks to build on win No. 1 in the desert.

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