Mat Ishbia used Phoenix Suns media day to make one thing unmistakably clear: he’s not treating this like a short-term stop. The Suns owner said he expects to be around for “the next 40, 50 years”, staking out a long runway in Phoenix as the 2026-27 season gets underway.
He also moved quickly to shut down any idea that trouble at United Wholesale Mortgage would spill over into the franchise. Ishbia said the company’s financial performance has no impact on his ownership of the Suns, and he made it plain that his commitment to the team hasn’t wavered.
That commitment may soon get even bigger. Ishbia plans to buy another 14 per cent of the franchise, and with his father and brother’s holdings added in, the Ishbia family would sit at roughly 90 per cent ownership. Taken together, it leaves little doubt about how deeply they’re planted in Phoenix.
The money talk didn’t stop there. Ishbia also spoke about paying the luxury tax as if it’s simply part of the job for years to come, reinforcing the idea that he’s willing to spend heavily to chase a winner. He has made that stance part of his identity as owner, and he’s clearly not backing off now.
At the same time, the league’s current rules keep reminding everyone that spending alone doesn’t solve everything. The second apron has already complicated Ishbia’s path, and it played a role in limiting what the Suns could do around Devin Booker, Durant and Bradley Beal, with Jusuf Nurkic the addition he could afford.
The bigger challenge, as the source material notes, is building with more foresight. General Manager Brian Gregory praised Khaman Maluach at media day, a reminder that the Suns need more than checks written in the present. If the long-term plan is going to mean anything, it has to include drafting and roster-building that can hold up over time.
For now, though, the message from Ishbia was the one Phoenix fans probably wanted to hear most: he’s staying put, and he’s acting like he plans to stay a long while.
In Other News...
Suns Are Asking Fans To Believe In A Core That Already Failed
After a rough finish to last season, the Suns are leaning into continuity with a roster that still looks very much in flux. The front office already made a series of moves around the edges, trading away Grayson Allen and Royce ONeale while bringing back Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie, then adding Miles Bridges to the mix.
The bigger question is whether that collection can actually function better than the group that faded after Feb. 5 and then got swept in the playoffs. Injuries and fit issues have already raised concerns, and Jalen Green in particular stands out as a swing piece for how competitive this team can be going forward, which leaves Phoenix asking fans to trust a core that has not yet earned it. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Face A Tough Frontcourt Choice After Mark Williams Injury
Mark Williams shoulder injury has left the Suns sorting through a frontcourt spot that suddenly feels a lot more important. Phoenix already has 15 players on standard contracts, so any addition has to fit neatly into a roster that is being managed closely as the team tries to stay competitive and keep enough size on hand.
One option under consideration is Duop Reath on a two-way contract, a move that would give the Suns extra center depth while letting him split time between Phoenix and the G League affiliate. The appeal is obvious for a team trying to patch a position without creating bigger roster ripples, and the Suns are weighing that route alongside the other two-way pieces already in place. [Read more 🡒]
Devin Booker Sees One Big Suns Advantage Heading Into This Season
Devin Booker opened media day talking like a player who believes the Suns have an early edge before the grind even starts. Entering his 12th season in Phoenix, Booker pointed to continuity as a real advantage, noting that the team kept most of its roster and coaching staff intact, which should help the group settle in faster than a team trying to learn everything from scratch.
Booker also said the offseason was about laying groundwork with new and returning teammates, including Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, as well as Khaman Maluach. For a Suns team that has spent recent seasons chasing stability, that kind of familiar base matters, especially for a veteran leader who wants Phoenix to come out sharp instead of spending the first month trying to catch up. [Read more 🡒]