Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia isn’t shying away from the spotlight-or the speculation. In a recent appearance on The Lowe Post podcast with ESPN’s Zach Lowe, Ishbia addressed two hot-button topics that have been swirling around the Suns: the team’s rumored interest in Hornets forward Miles Bridges, and the nature of his relationship with Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas.
Let’s start with the Thomas chatter. The former Knicks and Raptors executive has long been a polarizing figure in NBA front office circles, largely due to a turbulent tenure in New York that included some head-scratching trades and bloated contracts. Naturally, when reports surfaced that Thomas might be sliding into a front office role with the Suns, fans and pundits alike raised eyebrows.
Ishbia, however, quickly pumped the brakes on that narrative.
“No, Isiah is a friend of mine,” Ishbia said. “I talk to Isiah just like I talk to Tom Izzo, just like I talk to Draymond Green.
I talk to all my basketball connections through my life. Nobody has a formal title.”
In other words, Thomas is part of Ishbia’s basketball brain trust-informal, conversational, and not tied to any official role within the organization. Ishbia likened it to someone calling him for advice if they were buying a mortgage company. He’ll offer thoughts, bounce ideas around, and lean on long-standing relationships-but that doesn’t mean there’s a job offer on the table.
“Isiah has no formal title,” he reiterated. “I think he’s a great guy, I think he’s got a lot of great insights, but just like Tom Izzo does.”
Still, given Thomas’ track record in the front office-remember the Eddy Curry trade that cost the Knicks two first-round picks, or the $30 million deal for Jared Jeffries-it’s understandable why some Suns fans might be uneasy about any perceived influence, formal or not.
That uneasiness is compounded by the Suns’ recent rollercoaster of a roster build. The superteam experiment featuring Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal didn’t pan out, and both stars were moved in the offseason. Now, with Devin Booker sidelined and the team trying to find its footing, every rumor feels like it carries a little extra weight.
Which brings us to Miles Bridges.
The Hornets forward has been the subject of trade buzz, and the Suns have been mentioned as a potential landing spot. Ishbia didn’t fan the flames, but he didn’t exactly douse them either.
“He’s a great player and a winner on the court,” Ishbia said. “He believes in a lot of things we do, but there’s nothing to it right now. There’s nothing even close that we’re talking about.”
That’s as close to a non-denial as it gets. Ishbia made it clear the Suns are keeping an eye on the market, but emphasized that the team is happy with its current group.
“We like our team. We like our guys,” he said.
Still, with the trade deadline looming, the door isn’t completely shut.
“If a good opportunity comes up-whether it’s a position that we need-it’s got to be aligned with the age that we’re building and the toughness, and the type of guys we want,” Ishbia added.
That’s a glimpse into the Suns’ team-building philosophy under Ishbia. It’s not about chasing names for the sake of headlines. It’s about fit, identity, and long-term sustainability.
For now, Phoenix is riding some momentum despite Booker’s absence. The team recently notched a strong win over the Pistons, with Dillon Brooks and company stepping up. But as the Suns prepare to host the Cavaliers on Friday, the focus remains on the present-with one eye on the future, and both ears open to opportunity.