Monty Williams interviewed for the Los Angeles Lakers' coaching job this summer, but took the Phoenix Suns gig instead.

Why? Well for starters, the Lakers never offered Williams the job and the Suns gave him a wonderful opportunity he couldn't pass up.

The Lakers, after parting ways with Luke Walton, wound up hiring Frank Vogel. LA hired Jason Kidd and Lionel Hollins as Vogel's assistants.

The Suns and Lakers face off in Phoenix on Tuesday. Williams has the Suns off to a 6-3 start. He's bonding well with star shooting guard Devin Booker and is trying to change the culture of the franchise.

Phoenix has been a walking disaster for years. It hasn't had a winning record since 2014. The last time the Suns made the playoffs was all the way back in 2010.

Williams is the definition of a players' coach. He gets along with everyone and adapts his system to his players. Just take a look at Booker for example. His efficiency has gone up under Williams, as Booker is averaging 25.8 points while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 53.2 percent from beyond the arc.

It would be a great story if Williams can lead the Suns back to the postseason in his first year with the club. It's still really early in the season, but Phoenix appears to be a team on the rise with Williams at the controls.