Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia said the club now has “young players that are ascending instead of players that are descending,” calling that shift central to the organization’s plan.
Ishbia told Arizona Sports that the franchise’s culture is clearly defined and that the current roster buys into it.
The owner acknowledged that when he purchased the team in 2023, he believed the Suns were closer to contention than they actually were. “When I bought the Suns originally, I thought we were on third base,” he explained. “Now, I’ve set a vision. I’ve said, ‘Hey, I know what kind of guys I want, we ain’t trading for guys who aren’t like this.’”
That shift has already shown through in roster moves. The Suns ended their failed “superteam” experiment this summer, parting ways with Kevin Durant in a seven-team deal that brought back Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and multiple draft picks. Bradley Beal’s contract was waived and stretched in July, officially closing the chapter on the short-lived Big Three with Devin Booker.
Phoenix used its regained draft capital to select Duke center Khaman Maluach with the 10th pick, while also adding Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea in the second round. Ishbia pointed to those young additions, along with the arrivals of Brooks and Green, as part of the team’s long-term foundation.
The Suns also shifted leadership off the court. Former Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott was hired as head coach in June, while Brian Gregory was elevated to general manager. Ishbia has repeatedly emphasized the importance of having the right type of people in both the locker room and the front office.
The organization is also turning back to the G League with its Valley Suns affiliate, providing more opportunities for development. Ishbia said that while he expects it will take a couple of years before the vision is fully realized, he believes the Suns will surpass external expectations this season.
Phoenix is entering 2025–26 with the goal of rebounding from last year’s disappointing 36-win campaign and first playoff miss since 2020. Devin Booker remains the face of the franchise, but the supporting cast is now built around ascending players rather than veterans on the decline.
