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As Clippers owner Steve Ballmer serves a one-year suspension for salary cap circumvention, Suns owner Mat Ishbia told Front Office Sports he likes Ballmer as an owner, even while praising the NBA’s handling of its investigation into the Clippers. “I think Steve probably regrets what he did,” Ishbia told FOS editor-in-chief Dan Roberts on an upcoming episode of Portfolio Players. “I’m sure Steve realized he made a mistake. It doesn’t make me not like Steve. I think Steve Ballmer’s a great owner. He’s going to do great things. He’s a great part of the NBA. I know he’s on a year suspension. He’ll be back and hopefully have an impact in a positive way.”
“I think Adam Silver did a fantastic job managing it, leading, and punishing someone, and setting the tone that, ‘Listen, we have rules for a reason. We’re going to follow the rules, and if you’re not going to follow the rules, there are going to be severe consequences to make sure that no one thinks about doing that again,’” Ishbia said.
Mat Ishbia argued that the immediate focus should look past the next couple of years, aiming instead to unite existing international clubs under a single identity. “Europe has a lot of great leagues, and how do we put it together and really make it great? You put the NBA stamp on it,” he explained. While Euroleague executives remain open to future partnerships, Ishbia believes the priority is cementing the sport’s global footprint. He urged decision-makers to prioritize generational reach and growth over instant returns. “We’ve got to think, instead of saying short-term, we got to think long-term,” he added. “What’s the growth? What’s the plan? How do we make this in 20 years the most dominant and global game like it is right now, but continue to build throughout the world?”
Mat Ishbia: "I'm extremely engaged from every detail, every question. We just signed a new two-way player and I was involved with that. Every detail of the team, I'm involved with. And if people don't like that, then they're not going to be Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury fans. If they do like that, we'll see how the results come out. But we're going to do our best and we're completely aligned."
Mat Ishbia: "I'm supportive of growing the game, so I'm pro expansion. Obviously, it depends on the situation and making sure there's the right partners and the right value. But I believe that Vegas is a market that we need to fill. I think Seattle is one. I know there's been talk about Mexico City. The way I look at it is expanding the game. NBA is a global game, and having 30 is a limited number. Can you get to 32? I'm going to go that many more. Can you grow, can you cover a big market like Vegas? I don't care that it's close to Phoenix. I'm excited. I think there's abundance, there's opportunity everywhere, and I'm supportive of it."
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Mat Ishbia: "In fact, I'm buying more of my NBA team and WNBA team right now to where I'll own about 79%, which is actually one of the highest in the NBA and WNBA of ownership by one man and my brother and my dad combined for about 20%. So we're 99% as a family. I'm buying more, it's got nothing to do with my mortgage business, nothing to do with anything. My liquidity couldn't be further, less of an issue than people like to make it out to be."
Mat Ishbia: "We got to put more star power behind it, and I think that's where you're alluding to it. On the NBA dunk contest, the three-point contest, even All-Star Saturday night, we're even thinking about adding a new contest, a new thing in there that's going to really engage fans, even Friday night. So we're working on it and Adam Silver has been great. We are going to make some big changes to make the NBA the best NBA All-Star weekend of all time is the goal."
Mat Ishbia: "I don't believe in that whole you win for a couple years and they're going to tank. Like that whole tanking thing is for losers, I don't believe in it, I'm never going to be part of it. I'm glad the NBA got rid of that nonsense. With that being said, I'm focused on winning, winning all the time. Does that mean we're going to win a championship, we're going to win 82 games? No and no, but we're going to compete for a championship, we're going to get better every year and if we have a bad year, which we're going to have plenty of bad years, I'm going to figure out how to revamp and get us better."
Kevin Durant: U should be giving Thanks every chance u get. You don’t have to pay me an absurd amount of money to play for another team. Mat Ishbia: You obviously didn’t watch the clip. 😂 Didn’t blame you @Kdtrey5, but am happy with the culture we are building here in Phoenix. We got the right guys and right focus now and are excited for this season. Good luck this season in Houston.
Mike Vorkunov: Former Knicks team president and head coach Isiah Thomas will be on the MSG Knickerbockers Corp. board of directors. Thomas is also on The Sphere board, and also on the board of Mat Ishbia's UWM. Former Knicks president Steve Mills will sit on the MSG Rangers Corp board. He had been on the MSG Sports board.
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Sirius XM NBA Radio: “He’s gotta live up to the standards in Phoenix, and I’m excited for him to show that.” Suns owner Mat Ishbia talks to @Jumpshot8 about the addition of Miles Bridges
It's well-known at this point that billionaire Mat Ishbia's mortgage company has had a rough financial stretch. The owner of the Phoenix Suns said Monday that will have "zero" effect on his spending habits when it comes to basketball. In fact, the 46-year-old said he's working on purchasing 14% more of the team, bringing his total to roughly 80%.
Gerald Bourguet: "Off the court, what Miles did was unacceptable, cannot be condoned by anyone - in America, hopefully. That's just completely off. Now, he's been held accountable. He's shown remorse. And we have standards here in Phoenix" Mat Ishbia's full thoughts on the Miles Bridges trade:
Kellan Olson: Mat Ishbia said the situation with UWM that was widely reported on the last month is something that does not affect the Suns at all. "Zero. Absolutely zero." UWM had a "bad quarter" but they "like to create stories out of thin air." He's buying 14% more of the team.