Monty Williams was stricken with unimaginable tragedy last year. While he was an assistant with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Williams lost his wife to a car accident.
Williams’ grief has been prevalent and in the public eye. But the former New Orleans head coach has also been unmistakably strong in the face of tragedy.
Williams returned to the sidelines this summer as an assistant for Team USA. While he has expressed that he still finds it difficult to focus on coaching, Williams told ESPN’s Hannah Storm that he is doing it to honor his late wife.
Following transcribed by Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk:
When I was in Orlando playing – this was like 17 years ago – she told me, she said, “You’re going to be in the Olympics one day,” out of the blue, just unprompted. I looked at her, and I was like, “I’m a solid player, but I don’t think they’re going to have me on the Olympic team.” And she didn’t even respond. She just looked at me.
Williams is now a member of the distinguished Team USA. He has been embraced by the players and other coaches as he continues to fight through a difficult time.
Eventually, Monty Williams will return to the sidelines in the NBA. For now, he will do so in Rio in memory of his wife, Ingrid Williams.
