One year after signing a massive six-year contract with the Detroit Pistons, head coach Monty Williams was fired from the team Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The move to dismiss Williams came from the ownership level, according to ESPN. New Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon had been meeting regularly with Williams about the team’s future since his hiring a month ago, but ownership decided the move was needed after the Pistons’ 14-68 season.
Langdon delivered the news to Williams, per ESPN.
Williams, who signed the then-largest coaching deal in NBA history (six-year, $78.5 million), is still owed $65 million by the Pistons. Williams’ deal reset the market and Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra’s eight-year, $120 million contract afterwards set a new record in total contract valuation.
The Pistons will now look for a new head coach with the NBA Draft set to begin on June 25.
Williams initially landed in Detroit to assist a rebuild after being fired by the Phoenix Suns. His lone year in Detroit saw the Pistons finish at the bottom of NBA standings. The team also tied a league record with a 28-game regular-season losing streak.
In four seasons in Phoenix, Williams finished with 194-115 record. He also led the team to an NBA Finals appearance in the 2021-22 season after ending the regular season with a 64-18 record.
