Phoenix – In the past year, whenever Mat Ishbia responded to journalists, he was always asked a version of the same question. What is an error you made as owner of the Phoenix Suns, and how did you learn?
Ishbia, 45, almost always responded in the same way. He always learns, every day, in everything he does. And that’s probably true. A person does not arrive at the place where Ishbia is without learning and adapting. But this was also a notable agreement because the organization he directs went from the candidate for the western conference to after-season abandonment.
And so the question returned on Thursday when Ishbia spoke publicly for the first time since the Suns finished the most disappointing season in their history, the one that their fans and most of the others could not wait to finish.
Errors?
Ishbia said that he had done a lot since he supposed control of the Suns in February 2023. But his greatest regret is not to set an organizational tone and identity, which clearly indicates what the Suns believe as an organization and how they will work. “Because even if we do not win a championship this way,” said Ishbia in the team’s training center, “we are proud of it and we support it. We are good with that.”
Although it is not the confession that many might want after the team has broken a candidate in the championship to exchange Kevin during and added Bradley Beal and his contract impossible under the watch of Ishbia, it is a positive step for a owner who always finds his way.
Mat Ishbia and James Jones brought Kevin during the hope of bringing the Suns back to the NBA final. But the team has regressed since the move. (Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
Think of a year ago in similar circumstances. The Suns had just been swept away in the first round of the playoffs and Ishbia gave conferences on the media on the creation of scenarios “House on Fire” and how the Suns were This Near the place where they wanted to be. He said Memorably 26 other NBA teams would love to exchange premises with the Suns, not only their list, but their project capital and all the organizational configuration. It was a shocking exhibition of tone deafness, which has followed Ishbia since.
Ishbia had a different message on Thursday. By describing season 36-46 of Phoenix, he used words as “embarrassing” and “disappointing”. He called it a failure and recognized the collective lack of joy of the team. Basically, he said that all fans wanted to hear from the coach licensed Mike Budenholzer throughout the regular season. The late responsibility is better than any responsibility.
From the start, Ishbia promised titles. (This part has not changed Thursday; Ishbia has always said that the Suns would win championships – plural.) For fans, it was exciting to have a owner ready to spend, an willing to do everything you need. Asked about the place of Suns above the second tax deck, a salary threshold that limits the types of trades and signatures that high spending teams can do, Ishbia often said that fans did not care about such things, all they were careful was to win.
Which was true. Until the Suns this season starts to struggle, losing Charlotte in January and abandoning consecutive matches in Portland in February, seeming disconnected and disinterested. Then, Phoenix’s financial situation has become a much larger matter because it limited the listing options for the list. And a different opinion from Ishbia began to train. Whoever wondered if he knew what he was doing.
In the mortgage sector, Ishbia has been a practical leader. In basketball, the same approach has raised questions. The Suns have a leadership nucleus of Ishbia, the longtime director general James Jones and CEO Josh Bartelstein, but more than two years, it was easy to wonder if Ishbia is more involved than it should.
Ishbia postponed Thursday on this. It’s not like studying the film, he said. Not as if scouting the prospects of the college or examining the wage capitalization sheets.
It was a strange way to answer simply because no one cares if he watches a film. They care if he directs or replaces those who are.
Unlike some owners, Ishbia has basketball training. During his days as a walk-on in Michigan State, he sat next to the coach Tom Izzo to try to better understand the game. He planned to go to training and even made a job align as an assistant coach at Cleveland State. Rather, he chose mortgage activity.
In 2023, Bartelstein was asked who had the last call in staff decisions. He said, with Jones, his work was to present Ishbia with options. “We have an owner who includes basketball,” said Bartelstein. “He played it. He was around him all his life.
Bartelstein said that Ishbia’s involvement on staff decisions had been exaggerated on Thursday. Ishbia has not trade, he said. Did not ask the front office to sign a free agent. He is involved, said Bartelstein. But it should be. He is the owner.
Addition of Jones: “There is nothing better than having an owner who cares about it.”
The most revealing thing Ishbia said Thursday halfway through the press conference. If you haven’t noticed it, he said, when he makes a mistake, he believes that it is necessary to correct it quickly. Try something. If he fails, rotate.
“Patience will not be my strongest costume,” said Ishbia.
This part is about to change, and it could be the biggest test in Ishbia. The Suns have started the last two summers with a search for coaching. When asked how he could be different, Jones said: “Time”, admitting that previous research was not as deepened as the Suns would have liked. Ishbia said the organization will need a head coach that is better suited to his Suns basketball vision, someone who is hard and who is not afraid to cringe.
“I’m kidding, but it’s true, I’m not a talent, all my heart. It’s my life,” said Ishbia. “I am working on everyone. I’m going to have a coach, a front office, players that the Phoenix community will love. … because that’s what I am. “
(Top photo of Mat Ishbia in a December match against the Indiana Pacers: Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)
