PHOENIX – When Phoenix Suns Owner Mat Ishbia dismissed Bleacher Report’s prediction of the Suns’ record, it wasn’t just an owner defending his team. It was a signal of how the Phoenix Suns want to be understood.
PHOENIX – When Phoenix Suns Owner Mat Ishbia dismissed Bleacher Report’s prediction of the Suns’ record, it wasn’t just an owner defending his team. It was a signal of how the Phoenix Suns want to be understood. Internally confident, externally underestimated, and increasingly comfortable challenging the narrative.
Oct 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Suns Owner Mat Ishbia comments on Bleacher Reports projection:
Bleacher Report projected the Suns to finish 26–56, a record that assumed dysfunction would outweigh talent. Phoenix has already rendered that prediction obsolete. At 27–17, the Suns surpassed that win total before the season’s midpoint, turning a pessimistic forecast into background noise.
Feb 27, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix owner Ishbia watches a game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second quarter at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
National projections often focus on injuries, star power, and overall chemistry. Ishbia’s rebuttal highlighted something harder to quantify, which is organizational intent. Since taking over, Ishbia has emphasized alignment from ownership to locker room, betting that continuity and clarity would outpace speculation. Ishbia voiced similar concerns to the experts who also doubted the Phoenix Mercury before they had their WNBA finals appearance.
Dec 19, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix owner Ishbia sits courtside against the Indiana Pacers at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Phoenix’s win pace places them comfortably in the playoff mix, but more importantly, their efficiency in close games and ability to stabilize late speak to roster construction, not luck. Veteran depth, defined roles, and lineup flexibility have produced results that preseason models failed to capture. For Suns fans, Ishbia’s comments resonate emotionally. The Suns have lived through eras where ambition lagged behind expectation. Hearing ownership publicly embrace the process, not just getting talented stars, reinforces the belief that this success is built when everybody buys in.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
Category: General Sports
