The Detroit Pistons have decided to part ways with head coach Monty Williams after just one season. According to ESPN, the Pistons made the decision to let go of Williams, who was hired in the 2023 offseason with a lucrative six-year, $78.5 million contract. This contract was the largest ever for an NBA coach at the time.
Unfortunately, Williams’ time with the Pistons did not go as planned. The team had a rough season, starting with a 2-2 record and then going on to lose 28 consecutive games, setting a new record for the longest losing streak in a single season. The Pistons finished the season with a 14-68 record, once again having the worst record in the league for the second year in a row.
After the disappointing season, the Pistons decided to make changes to their front office. They hired Trajan Langdon, the former general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans, to be their new president of basketball operations. Shortly after Langdon’s hiring, general manager Troy Weaver stepped down from his position.
The decision to fire Williams was reportedly made at the ownership level and comes just one week before the 2024 NBA Draft, where the Pistons have the fifth overall pick. This is the second year in a row that the Pistons have fallen in the draft lottery, moving back four spots from their original position.
Before joining the Pistons, Williams had a successful coaching career with the Phoenix Suns, where he led the team to the NBA Finals in 2021 and won the Coach of the Year Award after a 64-win season. He also coached the New Orleans Pelicans from 2010 to 2015, guiding them to two playoff appearances but ultimately falling short in the first round.
The Pistons will now begin their search for a new head coach to lead the team in the upcoming season. The decision to part ways with Williams marks the end of a brief but turbulent era for the team, as they look to rebuild and improve upon their recent struggles on the court.