Matt Ishbia is a self-assured leader, though his bold moves as Suns owner haven’t always paid off. Soon after taking charge in 2023, he orchestrated a high-stakes trade to acquire Kevin Durant, giving up four first-round picks, two pick swaps, and sending Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson to Brooklyn. Not stopping there, Ishbia then traded four first-round and six second-round picks to get Bradley Beal from the Wizards. Unfortunately, these gambles backfired. The Suns managed only 36 wins last season, missed the playoffs, and ended up sending Durant to Houston and waiving Beal temporarily.
Yet Ishbia’s resilience is undeniable. Rather than retreat after the failures, he stayed vocal and confident, dismissing preseason skepticism about the Suns’ defense and declaring the team competitive on his Arizona State radio show. Despite predictions that they would struggle, this season the Suns have surprised many. With a 14-10 record, they sit just behind the sixth-seeded Timberwolves and have become one of the Western Conference’s most exciting teams.
Rookie coach Jordan Ott has transformed their playstyle, ranking the Suns highly in 3-point attempts, offensive rebounds, and especially defense where they excel in forcing turnovers. Although the team has been without stars Devin Booker (recovering from a groin injury) and Jaylen Green (hamstring issues), the Suns have relied on a deep rotation of players. New center Mark Williams and starting guards Royce O’Neal and Grayson Allen have been key contributors, while Colin Gillespie has stepped up with career-best performances.
The biggest surprise has been Dillon Brooks, who is putting up career-high scoring but also taking a high volume of difficult shots, especially with Booker sidelined. His aggressive style has been both a challenge and an asset, showing how the Suns are adjusting dynamically. Once Booker and Green return, the team will likely balance out its offense more, but for now, their emergence as a competitive and entertaining squad is a remarkable turnaround.
Despite past front office missteps, the Suns have evolved from a struggling team to one capable of competing night after night. Matt Ishbia’s brash confidence may be exactly what the franchise needed to push forward and surprise the basketball world.
Fan Take: This story matters because it highlights how bold leadership and resilience can transform a team that once seemed destined to decline. For basketball fans, the Suns’ resurgence under Ishbia’s ownership and Ott’s coaching promises a thrilling season and a fresh narrative in the Western Conference race.
