Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia is done sitting on the sidelines. In a candid appearance on the Southwest Bias podcast with host Greg “Espo” Esposito, Ishbia made it clear that he’s taking a more direct, hands-on approach with both franchises going forward, regardless of how people feel about it.
“I’m gonna be involved, of course,” Ishbia said. “And if people don’t want me involved, guess what — they’re not gonna want to cheer for the Suns or Mercury, because now I’m involved. The first couple of years we tried doing it a little differently, now I’m gonna do it the way I believe.”
The fiery comments mark a notable shift in tone from the early stages of Ishbia’s ownership, where he took a more measured public approach. After purchasing the team for a whopping $4 billion from Robert Sarver, he set to work right away carrying out his vision for success.
From the start, he was dedicated to the pursuit of a championship, bringing in Kevin Durant and establishing a superteam with him, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker. Still, despite his willingness to spend, he often delegated big decisions and ceded control to his circle of hand-picked executives and advisors.
With this approach, the Suns ended up with a top-heavy roster devoid of depth or chemistry. They could barely keep up with the play-in teams out West and somehow missed the playoffs entirely last season despite being led by three All-Stars (36-46).
Now, the message is loud and clear: this is his team, and he’s running things his way. While Ishbia was already getting flak for his bold and aggressive approach to team-building, he’s tightening his grip and doubling down on his strategy to win the title.
This summer, after parting ways with both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the Suns have shifted their focus away from acquiring star power and toward creating a more balanced roster all-around. Going into next season, the Suns aren’t the favorites to win the West, but they feel pretty good about their chances with Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Mark Williams, Dillon Brooks, and Grayson Allen (among others).
Ishbia Gets Real On Suns Culture
The roster has been revamped and repurposed to complement Devin Booker’s game, but it’s just one part of the equation for building a championship team. For Ishbia, one of the most important factors is setting the proper culture for the organization.
“What is Suns basketball about? What are we going to stand for? What are we going to do on the court? From the way that the players treat the fans walking off the court, high-fiving players and throwing a wristband to the stands, you start to see some of the things we’re putting in place with the way the bench was interacting and the way the players cared about one another,” added Ishbia.
While the 2025-26 Suns may not have the same top-end talent as the previous iteration of the team, they have something arguably just as valuable: a positive and team-affirming culture. With a true championship mindset and a group that likes and cares about each other, Ishbia believes his team is poised to surprise a lot of people next season.
For better or worse, the Phoenix Suns are now a full reflection of Mat Ishbia — bold, unapologetic, and relentlessly driven to win. His fingerprints are all over the roster, the culture, and the direction of the franchise moving forward.
If the new-look Suns can deliver results, Ishbia’s approach will be vindicated. But if not, there will be no one else to blame. This is his vision, his team, and his moment to prove that hands-on ownership can still build a champion in today’s NBA.
