The Detroit Pistons made it clear that they want to straighten the course of their team sooner rather than later.
Instead of messing around and looking for a lesser option to be their new coach, they went for the big prize and hired former NBA Coach of the Year Monty Williams for a very lucrative six-year deal.
Williams will now be touted with the tough task of turning an ever-struggling franchise around, and he’s made history already.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Williams will be the second coach in NBA history to take over multiple teams who won fewer than 20 games the prior campaign, joining Gene Shue with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Suns went 19-63 the season before Monty Williams took over, and the Pistons went 17-65 this season.
Monty Williams will be the 2nd coach in NBA history to take over multiple teams who won under 20 games the past season (Gene Shue – 76ers & Clippers).
h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/IGamJYJKIU
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 1, 2023
The Phoenix Suns won just 19 games before hiring Williams, and the Pistons went 17-65 last year, so it’ll definitely be a challenge.
Williams helped turn the culture around in the desert, turning the Suns into a legit NBA championship contender and making an immediate impact on a bottom-feeding organization.
Of course, the Pistons don’t have a bonafide star like Devin Booker — yet — but they have plenty of young talent to build around.
Williams is a great motivator and will be key in the Pistons’ player development for years to come.
The Pistons were expected to be a dark horse to make at least the play-in tournament last season, but that obviously wasn’t the case.
Now, with Cade Cunningham back from injury and Jaden Ivey with a full season under his belt, they might as well fight for a play-in spot with their new coach.
NEXT: NBA Analyst Adds Context To Monty Williams' Massive Deal
