PHOENIX SUNS

Emotional Monty Williams: ‘I just don’t take it for granted’ after Finals loss

Jul 20, 2021, 10:59 PM | Updated: Jul 21, 2021, 8:30 am

Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams got emotional after reflecting on what he learned in his first NBA Finals appearance, a ride that ended Tuesday with a Game 6 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I think it’s going to take me a minute,” Williams said in response to if he could process what he learned from the experience.

He then paused for a few moments.

“I just don’t take it for granted,” Williams said as he became emotional.

“It’s hard to get here. I wanted it so bad.”

He ended the press conference saying it was hard to process and went to the Bucks’ locker room to congratulate the team.

Williams has been waiting to be a part of an NBA Finals for a long time.

He began his coaching career in 2005 with the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant coach after 11 seasons in the league as a player.

Williams got his first crack at a head coaching job with the New Orleans Hornets five years later as the league’s youngest head coach at age 38, where he coached Chris Paul for a season before the Point God joined the Los Angeles Clippers.

Over five seasons with the Hornets, Williams collected a record of 173-221 and made the playoffs in two of those seasons, losing in the first round both times.

After serving as an associate head coach with Oklahoma City and an assistant coach with Philadelphia, he was hired prior to the 2019-20 season to take the helm of a Phoenix Suns team that had not made the playoffs since 2010 and suffered five seasons with more than 50 losses during that time.

The team improved to a record of 34-39 in his first year as head coach in the Valley and provided a glimpse of what would come with an 8-0 record in the bubble.

After being reunited with Chris Paul, Williams and the Suns finished second in the Western Conference with a 51-21 record this season and took down the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers on their way to the NBA Finals, the franchise’s first in nearly three decades.

“I’m just thankful that God allowed me to be in this position, to be head coach in the Finals,” Williams said. “It hurts badly, but I’m also grateful that we had this chance to play for a championship.”

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) and Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) battle for the ball during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) battles for the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) battles under the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, center, and center Deandre Ayton, right, during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) drives past Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer watches form the bench during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) slam dunks during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams watches from the bench during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis (9) reacts during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday challenges Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) as he drives to the basket during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) battles against Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, facing, pressures Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Fans watch television coverage of Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) goes to the basket over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, bottom right, during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Fans watch television coverage of Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) moves towards the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Fans watch television coverage of Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) goes to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) works the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard Bryn Forbes (7) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is double teamed by Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) and guard Chris Paul during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) goes to the basket against Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) reacts during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) slam dunks over Phoenix Suns forward Frank Kaminsky (8), forward Mikal Bridges (25) and forward Jae Crowder (99) during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) goes to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Jrue Holiday (21) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) looks to pass under pressure from Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, left, and forward Jae Crowder during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Fans cheer after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals to win the NBA championship Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo hugs forward P.J. Tucker after defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 105-98. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo hugs forward P.J. Tucker after defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 105-98. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) Fans cheer after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals to win the championship, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Fireworks explode over Fiserv Forum after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) 
              Fans watch Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
            
              Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis (9) reacts during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
            
              Fans watch television coverage of Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
            Fans cheer after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won the NBA championship. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) holds the finals MVP trophy after the Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The Bucks won 105-98. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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