The Phoenix Suns took on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday on an extremely emotional day for Suns head coach Monty Williams. Williams lost his wife, Ingrid Williams in a car crash seven years ago. Sunday would have been her birthday, and the Thunder made an awesome gesture for him before the game.
Monty Williams was an assistant coach for Oklahoma City when the crash occurred during the 2015-16 season. Oklahoma City made the classy move to keep the seat his wife used to sit in vacant for Sunday’s game.
Williams spoke about this decision from the Thunder organization, thanking them and praising the organization for the heartfelt gesture after the game.
“My family had a really difficult life change here,” Williams said via Suns reporter Duane Rankin. “We lost my wife here in this city. This city and in particular this organization wrapped their arms around me and my family. They continue to do so. Today would have been my wife’s birthday. They chose to honor my wife by not allowing anyone to sit in her seat.
“When I found out this morning, it really messed me up because it really speaks to how blessed I am. To do what I do and work for the people that I work for. For them to do this today really speaks to them as an organization.”
Monty Williams thanked the #Thunder organization for honoring his late wife today by not having anyone sit in seat she sat in when he was an Oklahoma City assistant in 2015-16 season.
Today would've been her birthday. Ingrid Williams died in a car accident Feb. 10, 2016. #Suns pic.twitter.com/Z6f0cmaWYU
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 2, 2023
Many took notice of this and praised Oklahoma City for their extremely heart-warming gesture.
Well done @okcthunder https://t.co/29G18iJRv0
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) April 2, 2023
Monty Williams is not one to say something that is knowingly going to give him more attention, so it says something about who he is that he wanted to make sure the Thunder got recognized for this incredible gesture. https://t.co/mPBvT9DGg6
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) April 2, 2023
Wow, that’s beautiful. https://t.co/tf18l73YwY
— Timberwolves Brooklyn 🐺 (@RobbyRav) April 2, 2023
Wowwwww. I’ll forever be rooting for OKC. This is a very nice gesture. Beautiful to say the least. https://t.co/u9UPsgDe6r
— Don Bernicio (@TeddyBNice) April 3, 2023
Well done @okcthunder. Monte and his family meant a ton to OKC when he was here coaching and this small gesture to his wife is great to see. RIP Ingrid! https://t.co/NJc0JeQESW
— AW (@AWood405) April 3, 2023
The Suns were able to come away with a 128-118 victory, but the game at hand was obviously secondary on an extremely emotional day for Monty Williams.
