Watch: Deandre Ayton’s heated exchange involving Monty Williams on Suns’ bench

Dec 20, 2022, 10:58 PM | Updated: Dec 21, 2022, 8:58 am

Arizona Sports

Suns center Deandre Ayton was seen in a heated exchange involving head coach Monty Williams on the team’s bench during Phoenix’s 113-110 loss to the Washington Wizards at Footprint Center on Tuesday night.

What do you think is going on here? 👀@PHXFansApp @XinNBA @AndrewLeezus pic.twitter.com/vJXNDUiHaX

— Goober222 (@Goober2221) December 21, 2022

“No, it was the whole team,” Williams said of the incident postgame. “In those moments — it wasn’t just Deandre — it was the whole group out there not executing properly.

“It was a bitter frustration but that happens. That was not an isolated one-person or one-player thing.”

The altercation between Ayton and Williams appears to be during a timeout with 44 seconds remaining with the Suns trailing, 107-100.

Prior to that, Mikal Bridges was seen bickering at Ayton for what seemed to be a blown screen on the Suns’ previous possession.

here is Ayton and Mikal barking at each other during free throws, and Bradley Beal doing his best Joakim Noahhttps://t.co/bg7OHU7zNw https://t.co/a9w32fCzPw pic.twitter.com/wxRUfeI8wZ

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 21, 2022

“We a family, so he knows how to talk to his boys, and his boys know how to communicate,” Ayton told reporters postgame. “Obviously the whole world sees it, but it’s really all love and just getting us back to regroup.

“It gets really emotional and all that, but as I said, this is a family. We know each other, we know each other’s personalities. Everybody got to see us really, like, intensified in the moment where, OK, dang, we lost our upper hand. But coach clarified it up in the huddle.”

Here is what appears to be the aforementioned blown screen on the offensive end:

Here is the play. You can see Torrey Craig on the bottom with his hands up as it unfolds pic.twitter.com/hKvivN69M6

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 21, 2022

TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley gave his thoughts on his former team and went so much to say that the Suns are “not even close to being a championship contender anymore.”

"Right now, it's not working. They're going to win a lot of games cause they got talent, but they're not even close to being a championship contender anymore."

Chuck reacts to the Suns' heated bench exchange in loss to the Wizards pic.twitter.com/N6ge10nYmX

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 21, 2022

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Washington Wizards' Monte Morris (22) drives past Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal (3) gets pressure from Phoenix Suns' Damion Lee (10) and Torrey Craig during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Dani Avdija (9) dunks over Phoenix Suns' Torrey Craig during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Monte Morris, left, and Daniel Gafford, right, double team Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton, middle, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Phoenix Suns' Mikel Bridges signals three after making a 3-pointer against the Washington Wizards during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Kyle Kuzma (33) gets hit in the head off a dunk from teammate Daniel Gafford (21) while teammate Jordan Goodwin and Phoenix Suns' Duane Washington Jr. look on during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Daniel Gafford (21) tries to defend Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Kyle Kuzma (33) shoots over Phoenix Suns' Torrey Craig during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton (22) grabs a rebound over teammates Torrey Craig, middle, and Chris Paul, right during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Kyle Kuzma (33) gets a high five from Bradley Beal (3) after Kuzma put the Wizards up over the Phoenix Suns late in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Washington beat Phoenix 113-110. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Kyle Kuzma gives a high five to Dani Avdija (9) after Kuzma put the Wizards up over the Phoenix Suns late in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Washington beat Phoenix 113-110. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul covers his face after falling on his shoulder in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Washington beat Phoenix 113-110. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal puts up a shot while falling to the ground as Phoenix Suns' Mikal Bridges, left and Ish Wainwright (12) try to defend him late in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Washington beat Phoenix 113-110. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Washington Wizards' Deni Avdija (9) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Washington beat Phoenix 113-110. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul (3) grabs his shoulder after a fall late in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Washington beat Phoenix 113-110. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Phoenix Suns' Torrey Craig (0) reacts to a call in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Washington beat Phoenix 113-110. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Phoenix Suns' Bismack Biyombo (18) dunks next to Washington Wizards' Daniel Gafford (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. The Wizards won 113-110. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Phoenix Suns' Bismack Biyombo (18) reaches for a rebound next to Washington Wizards' Daniel Gafford (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. The Wizards won 113-110. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

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