CMSC | -0.52% | 24.79 | $ | |
SCS | 0.53% | 13.21 | $ | |
RBGPF | 0.69% | 60.92 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.52% | 25.02 | $ | |
JRI | -0.15% | 13.15 | $ | |
RIO | -1.32% | 65.09 | $ | |
BCC | -3.38% | 142.2 | $ | |
BCE | 0.03% | 33.49 | $ | |
NGG | -1.41% | 67.19 | $ | |
GSK | -0.64% | 38.96 | $ | |
BTI | -1.22% | 35.37 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.68% | 7.4 | $ | |
BP | 1.25% | 31.32 | $ | |
RELX | 0.91% | 48.59 | $ | |
AZN | -0.37% | 78.02 | $ | |
VOD | -1.23% | 9.73 | $ |
Pistons sack head coach Williams after woeful NBA season
The Detroit Pistons fired head coach Monty Williams on Wednesday after a losing NBA season that featured a 28-game losing streak and just 14 victories.
"Decisions like these are difficult to make, and I want to thank Monty for his hard work and dedication," Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement.
"Coaching has many dynamic challenges that emerge during a season and Monty always handled those with grace. However, after reviewing our performance carefully and assessing our current position as an organization, we will chart a new course moving forward."
The Pistons' 28-game mid-season skid was the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history.
They finished in last place in the Eastern Conference with a league-worst 14-68 record.
Williams, a former coach of the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns, departs a year after inking a six-year contract worth a reported $78.5 million -- the largest coaching deal in NBA history.
ESPN reported the Pistons would "absorb" the $65 million remaining on his contract.
Gores had brought Williams, the 2022 NBA Coach of the Year in Phoenix, to Detroit hoping he could revive a young roster sparked by Croatian forward Bojan Bogdanovic.
But in his first term the Pistons were even worse than their 17-65 record in 2022-23, after which Dwane Casey stepped down as coach.
"We are unwavering in our commitment to bring a championship-caliber team to Detroit," Gores said, promising the team would be "diligent and swift" in their search for a new coach.
The Pistons have the fifth overall pick in next week's NBA draft.
L.Keller--HHA