PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker has opened up about the team’s new head coach for the first time.
In an interview with ABC15, Booker says he met with Monty Williams earlier this week.
“Everything I've heard is just a high character man,” Booker said. “Everyone says he's the right person for the job, so I am excited for our relationship to extend furthermore and to find out more about him. We are on the same plan to turn this thing around.”
In his introductory press conference, Willams said it’s his job to teach the Suns’ young core a winning culture.
“I have to enhance the strengths but be honest about our weaknesses and get the players to consider a new way of doing some things,” Williams said. “I think I'm here at the right time and I'm here with the right people."
Booker says he’s excited to see Williams set the bar high from the start.
“You have to, especially with the young group that we have we're going to need guidance to turn this thing around,” he said.
Booker believes Williams’ time as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers' young squad was a valuable experience that can help the Suns steer their own young core players in a positive direction.
“He was just a part of that in Philly and how they figured that out and made a great playoff run. That’s the level of basketball we are trying to get," Booker said.
When asked if he has been frustrated with things like coaching changes or with not having a set point guard for parts of his career, Booker’s mentality is that it comes down to one thing.
“I've just been frustrated about not winning. That’s the thing for me,” he said. “I think everybody in the city of Phoenix, from the front office to the players, every coach that's been here, they want to win. That's the next step for us, and that's our main goal.”
You can see more from our one-on-one interview with Devin Booker during NBA Finals coverage beginning Thursday, May 30 on ABC15.
