The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Friday that assistant coach Monty Williams will not return this season. Williams' wife, Ingrid, died from injuries sustained in a car crash a month ago.
"The most important thing for Monty during this time is for him to be with his family, and the most important thing for us as an organization is to support him as a person, in any way that we can," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. "Even though Monty will not return to the team this season, his presence will be felt by all of us within the program and we will remain close with him and his family."
"I have really enjoyed my relationship with Monty, and clearly we will miss him, but we value and embrace that it is critical he is there for his family at this time and our focus is on doing whatever we can, in any small way, to help him," Oklahoma City head coach Billy Donovan said in a statement. "He and his family will continue to be in our thoughts."
Before the Thunder's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, Donovan said that, based on conversations with Williams, this was expected, via Erik Horne of the Oklahoman. He also called it a wise decision.
Williams is also an assistant coach for Team USA. Earlier this week, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said that Williams will have as much time as he needs to decide if he wants to be on the staff at the Olympics in Rio this summer, via USA Today's Nancy Armour.
