Phoenix – Sun The owner of Mat Ishbia sat in his usual court in January, when he came to a surprising but unmistakable conclusion.
He had a strong reluctance for a highly price basketball product that put his leadership in court.
Sure, there were some talented players in the team like Kevin durant, Devin Booker and Bradley BealBut there was no joy. There was no passion. There was no identity.
And for that, the man was responsible.
“The embarrassing season, right?” Ishbia said. “Disappointment. Terrible. I watch every game like everyone you do, and no one is proud of it, no one is happy with it, from the front office to the coaches and players, to the marketing managers to the security guards.
“It was a failure.”
Ishbia’s sincere remarks came at a press conference on Thursday after probably the most unsatisfactory season in the history of franchise, which comes from 1968. The sun had a stellar inventory that included All-Star Trio of Durant, Booker and Beal, but ended with a 36-46 record and missed Postseason.
Even more than loss, Ishbia was most disappointed in the team’s efforts. The Sun was one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA and often blown out of the elite league.
“I want to put a team there for a court that everyone is proud of,” Ishbia said. “He must have an identity – an identity similar to Phoenix. Some gravel, some determination, some work ethics, some grind, some joy. We just didn’t.”
Ishbia and the Sun have already made one big change and shot coach Mike Budenholzer just hours after the loss of Sunday season on Sacramento Kings. It is one of several seismic changes for the team that has been bought from Ishbia for about $ 4 billion in 2023.
With a confident 45 -year -old man, he admits that two years ago he did not do a good job in setting up a team foundation in court and approved moves that sometimes seemed to build a fantasy basketball team instead of trying to win real life games.
Ishbia was a 5-Naha-10 walk in Michigan at university and played a minor role in helping Spartans win the National Championship 2000. He said that the lesson he learned under the legendary Tom Izzo must better translate what he does with the sun.
“I’m not a talent, my whole heart, that’s my life,” Ishbia said. “I will only present everyone. I will have a coach, front office and players that the Phoenix community will love.”
Now a heavy part comes – in fact, it can.
At Thursday’s press conference were two of the main staff of the front Office Sun – CEO Josh Bartelstein and CEO James Jones, suggesting that they will have at least a role with the franchise. Ishbia was also adamant that the Sun would not trade a Booker, a four-time All-Star that spent all 10 NBA seasons in the desert.
“He’s a franchise player, he did amazing things,” Ishbia said. “I’m talking to him and we are very in line with what we want to do. His mission and my mission are very similar – let’s bring a championship to Phoenix.”
Otherwise, anything seems to be possible.
36 -year -old Durant is on the next season on the basis of a contract, but also represents one valuable trade chip that the sun could solve. Fifteen times all-star has just completed another phenomenal year, on average 26.6 points and would be an attractive supplement for applicants.
The situation for 31 -year -old Beal is much different. The three-time All-Star has another two years on a contract that pays more than $ 50 million annually, but its production last season did not approach this salary. Tell him the characters to be complex.
Before these decisions are made, the sun must find a coach who will be their fourth in four seasons.
After two years of victory in press conferences, Ishbia is ready to start winning games.
“We have to get another rental correctly,” Ishbia said. “And we do.”
