Stephen Jackson implies Suns owner Mat Ishbia is RACIST after team’s shock move

Former NBA player slams Suns for firing Monty Williams

Stephen Jackson implies Suns owner Mat Ishbia is RACIST after team’s shock move

Stephen Jackson (Via J Pat Carter/BIG3/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns, in a stunning move, fired their head coach Monty Williams two days after the team lost to Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games. However, former NBA champion Stephen Jackson was not happy with the decision and accused the Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia of racism.

Jackson on the I AM ATHLETE podcast, said that the Suns did Williams “dirty” and implied that they were looking for a white coach to take over.

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“They bring this team together at the end of the year, I don’t care if you got KD [Kevin Durant] or not, chemistry still matters. I don’t care what stars you have, chemistry still matters. They still need time. Even I say that if they lose, they were gonna give this team minus CP3 [Chris Paul] another year to kind of have a whole season of training camp together to see if they can pull it off,” Jackson said on the podcast.

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He continued, “I didn’t think they were gonna get rid of the coach… When teams come together like this, they are quick to go and find a white coach, just throw him in that position so he can get all the credit. I don’t care, I said it. They do it too much. Every time a Black coach comes into the league, he gets the worst team in the league to start his career off. Under .500, you’ve got a sorry team and his team won’t win, so he’s six years in when he finally gets a star. In a situation like this, they’re always gonna find a white coach like Steve Nash in Brooklyn, where the team is already together. I think Monty Williams is a great coach… They did Monty wrong.”

Also Read: “Another L, another scapegoat” – Phoenix Suns’ breakup with HC Monty Williams SLAMMED by NBA fans after playoff elimination

Monty Williams’ firing by the Suns a surprise to many

Monty Williams is done with the Suns after four seasons. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Monty Williams is done with the Suns after four seasons. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Williams inherited a young and struggling team and turned them into a powerhouse in the Western Conference and helped develop Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton and brought in veteran leadership with Kevin Durant and Chris Paul.

He led the Suns to a 45-37 record this season, good for fourth place in the West. He led the Suns to their first Finals appearance in 28 years last season and Conference Semifinals this season and had a 194-115 record with the team.

Williams after being fired said this on Friday, “When you look at really good coaches who have lost their jobs shortly after winning a championship, that’s something that is just different about our business“, and went on to add that “it’s just a part of our NBA economy.”

The Suns have not announced who will replace Williams as their head coach, but some names have been linked to the job. According to Sports Illustrated, the Suns are looking to bring in Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue to replace Williams.

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