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Mat Ishbia Takes Hands-On Control of Suns and Mercury in Culture Overhaul

Reshaping the Suns around Devin Booker, Ishbia pledges to earn fan trust through consistent, accountable leadership.

Overview

  • Ishbia announced on August 15 that he is shifting to a direct, hands-on management style for both the Suns and Mercury after previous star-driven delegation underperformed.
  • The Suns extended Devin Booker, traded Kevin Durant to the Rockets, and bought out Bradley Beal this offseason, centering the rebuild around Booker.
  • New head coach Jordan Ott has been hired to implement clearer roles, sharper identity, and a private-sector mindset across daily operations.
  • Ishbia highlighted the Mercury’s turnaround under coaches Nate Tibbetts and Nick Uren as proof that a process-driven culture can yield steady progress.
  • He accepted personal accountability for the franchises’ results and forecasted visible improvement over the next two to three years to regain fan trust.