Newsletter
Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Reading: Mat Ishbia Sends A Message To The Fans After The Firing Of Mike Budenholzer
Fadeaway WorldFadeaway World
Search
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Follow US
Home > NBA News & Analysis > Phoenix Suns News & Analysis > Mat Ishbia Sends A Message To The Fans After The Firing Of Mike Budenholzer

Mat Ishbia Sends A Message To The Fans After The Firing Of Mike Budenholzer

Suns owner makes a statement after disastrous season.

Nico Martinez
Apr 17, 2025
5 Min Read
Share

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The 2024-25 season is officially over for the Phoenix Suns, and there’s nothing else to call it but an utter failure. They fired their head coach, Mike Budenholzer, after winning just 36 games, and the franchise’s majority owner, Mat Ishbia, had no choice but to own up to the mistake in his latest chat with the media.

“Embarrassing season. Awful,” said Ishbia, via Cameron Cox. “It was a failure. We have to do stuff differently. I’m disappointed. It was not fun to watch our team. I’m here for it, and I’m here to be accountable. It was not fun to watch our team this season. What we’ve tried has not been successful. We thought it would work, and it didn’t work. I have to do a better job on the identity of the Phoenix Suns. I will do a better job as an owner. You guys will feel the change. It will be undeniable. You will be proud of this team (again). Fans deserve better.”

It’s hard to pinpoint one area of blame for the Suns’ disastrous campaign, but Mike Budenholzer was the scapegoat for obvious reasons. He won a championship with the Bucks in 2021 but was fired after losing to the eighth seed. He was never a good fit in Phoenix, and it became obvious after he clashed with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. 

“We’ve got to get the next hire right, and we will. The team and the roster that was constructed by James, Josh, the scouts, and the front office is much better than a 36-win roster,” said Ishbia. “So there are a lot of reasons why Coach Bud is not here, and I’m not going to get to all those reasons, but I believe we should have won a lot more games and been a lot more competitive during those games. I wish him the best, but he was the wrong coach for our organization and for that team. At the end of the day, you can blame me for it because I’m the owner at the end of the day.”

The Phoenix Suns were in the Finals a few years ago, but they didn’t even qualify for the play-in after finishing 11th in the West. Despite the struggles, however, Ishibia still believes his team will win multiple titles in the not-too-distant future.

“I promise you we will,” said Ishbia. “I promise you we will win championships, with an S at the end… I have to do a better job of setting an identity for this franchise. You will enjoy watching this team much more next year.”

Ishbia purchased the Suns (and the Phoenix Mercury) back in February of 2023 for $4 billion. Since he took control, Ishbia has been operating with a complete win-now mentality that has gotten mixed reviews from the fans. In his first few months on the job, he went all-out for Kevin Durant and then brought in Bradley Beal to form a new “big three.”

In return, the Suns gave up all tradeable assets, from future draft picks to young budding stars such as Mikal Bridges and DeAndre Ayton. The Suns sacrificed their depth and entire basketball future to build their current roster, but the results have been ugly so far.

Since Durant’s arrival, the Suns have only made it out of the first round once, and they have a losing record in the regular season. No matter what happens with his contract this summer, look for the Suns to remake their identity and rally behind a new voice in the locker room. Ishbia has gone too far to go back now, and he’s as committed as ever to winning a championship as soon as he can.

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Mat IshbiaMike BudenholzerPhoenix Suns Archive
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
ByNico Martinez
Follow:
Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
Previous Article Nikola Jokic Can Tell Where His Teammates Are Using Only Sound Waves From Their Voice
Next Article Luka Doncic Has Faith In The Lakers’ Title Odds, Says Chemistry Is At An All-Time High
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram

You Might Also Like

JJ Redick
Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis

Richard Jefferson Reveals Major Flaw In JJ Redick’s Coaching

October 3, 2025
Luka Doncic
Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis

Austin Reaves Recalls Luka Doncic’s First Game Back In Dallas After Blockbuster Trade

October 3, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves News & Analysis

Anthony Edwards Gets Real On Putting “Belt To A**” On Elite Players Like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry

October 3, 2025
Golden State Warriors News & Analysis

Steve Kerr Took A Page From Phil Jackson’s Book To Avoid Contract Distractions During Warriors’ Season

October 3, 2025

NBA - Fadeaway World

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

Pages

  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA Media
  • Exclusive NBA Interviews
  • NBA 2K News & Updates

© 2025 Fadeaway World @ All Rights Reserved

  • About Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Contact Us
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?