Ingrid Williams, the
wife of Oklahoma
City Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams, is dead at age 44, the
team announced Wednesday. Ingrid Williams was involved in a car accident
Tuesday night in Oklahoma City when she was hit head-on by another car that
crossed over the center lane. She was taken to a hospital and died Wednesday
evening from injuries suffered in the crash. The driver of the other car was
pronounced dead at the scene. "The Thunder organization has heavy hearts
tonight with the news of Ingrid's passing," the team said in a statement.
"Words cannot adequately describe how deep our sorrow is for the loss of
Monty's wife. Our thoughts and prayers are with Monty and his family, and we
will support him in every way possible. We know the entire community of
Oklahoma City has them in their prayers."
Before joining the
Thunder coaching staff, Monty Williams served as New Orleans' head coach from
2010 to 2015. He and Ingrid Williams have five children with ages ranging from
5 to 17 years old. "The New Orleans Pelicans are devastated to hear the
news of Ingrid Williams' passing," the Pelicans said in a statement.
"Ingrid was beloved by the Pelicans organization and the New Orleans
community and will forever be remembered as one of the most generous, kind and
humble individuals we've ever known. Our thoughts and prayers are with Monty
Williams and his family during this difficult time." Alvin Gentry, who
replaced Monty Williams as Pelicans coach, said the team said a prayer for
Williams' family in the locker room before Wednesday night's game, and the arena's
public address announcer asked for a moment of silence before tipoff.
The players that were
here with Monty and their family definitely felt it," New Orleans point
guard Jrue
Holiday said after a 100-96 win over Utah. Obviously we're all
blessed to play the game of basketball, but family comes before that. And I
know most of the guys were thinking about our families, thinking about his
family. Monty Williams played three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and served
there as a coaching intern. The news of Ingrid Williams' death almost led Spurs
coach Gregg Popovich to not coach his team's game Wednesday.
An emotional Popovich
walked out of the locker room several minutes after San Antonio's 98-96 win
over the Orlando
Magic with a tissue in one hand, tears in his eyes and remnants of
tears wiped away as he addressed the media. "I'd rather talk about
basketball," Popovich said. "The personal stuff's none of your
business." Popovich changed clothes and later re-entered the locker room.
He walked over to Tim Duncan, who had been coached by Williams,
and the two shared a private moment. Kawhi Leonard's last-second jumper gave
the Spurs their sixth consecutive victory, and their 20th win in their last 22
games, but the locker room afterward was a somber place. "Coach [Williams]
was a Spur," guard Danny Green said. "He's still a part of
our family, and my prayers go out to him and his family." Los Angeles
Clippers coach Doc Rivers also had a close relationship with the
Williams family.
Monty Williams and his
wife, Ingrid, I've known them since I was married," Rivers said after the
Clippers' 139-134
loss to the Celtics. "So I don't know if -- there's no words.
There really isn't. I am heartbroken. I'm sick to death. Once again it puts
this stuff we do in perspective. This is awful. Obviously our love and support
and all that, but sometimes that doesn't seem fair. There's no better human
being in the world than Monty and Ingrid, and for this to happen, sometimes you
question everything, and this is one of those times for me at least. Denver Nuggets
coach Mike Malone said he is a friend of Monty Williams and that the news of
Ingrid's death affected him during his team's 103-92 win over Detroit.
"I apologized to the team. The first half, I coached very angry,"
Malone said. "I don't know if you guys heard, Monty Williams, a good
friend of mine, his wife was killed in an accident." After a long pause,
he said, "So I apologized to them because it's taking my anger out on
them, and they don't deserve that."
