PHOENIX — The moment came late in the second quarter of Game 2 of the Suns-Lakers series. Monty Williams, black mask pulled down below his chin, knelt in front of frustrated center Deandre Ayton during a timeout.
Throughout his coaching career, Williams has had several mentors who have shaped him. He worked under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio and Nate McMillan in Portland. In 2016, he worked alongside Mike Krzyzewski at the Summer Olympics in Brazil.
But as Williams talked with Ayton, LaPhonso Ellis, watching on television, was reminded of another coach. “Deandre was bothered by something,” said Ellis, a college teammate of Williams’ at Notre Dame. “I can’t remember what it was, but I remember Monty sitting down and putting two fingers to his own head and saying, ‘Keep your head. Stay mentally tough.’ And that right there reminded me of John MacLeod.
