91果冻传媒

ESPN hot take veteran Mat Ishbia is on the verge of being the 鈥渨orst owner in NBA history.鈥� 

Here in Arizona, we see something different: an owner who鈥檚 invested more in his teams, his players, and his city in two years than most do in a lifetime. 

Let鈥檚 be clear: the Suns didn鈥檛 fall apart overnight, and no one鈥檚 above criticism 鈥� not even Mat. But to call him an 鈥渁trocity鈥� of an owner? That鈥檚 a bad take even by Stephen A.鈥檚 standards. And it completely ignores the reality. 

Since purchasing the Suns and Mercury for a record $4 billion, Ishbia has: 

路 Poured $100 million into a new, state-of-the-art practice facility for the Mercury 鈥� finally giving a championship-caliber WNBA team the dedicated resources and recognition it deserves

路 Paid record-setting luxury taxes to field a competitive roster 鈥� not exactly the move of someone pinching pennies

路 Rolled out fan-first perks like a $2 value menu to improve the game-day experience and keep outings accessible for Arizona families

路 Launched the 鈥淩ise Together鈥� campaign, pledging $10 million in community benefits for Phoenix nonprofits and youth programs

And then there鈥檚 the broadcast deal 鈥� a move that speaks volumes about Ishbia鈥檚 priorities. Last year, he tore up the old cable-based model and struck a new partnership with Gray Television, allowing every Suns and Mercury game to be broadcast for free, over the air, across Arizona. In an era when most franchises are making it harder and more expensive for fans to watch their teams, Ishbia made it easier. 

That鈥檚 not someone running a vanity project. That鈥檚 someone building something to last. 

Is the team exactly where fans want it to be today? No. But great organizations 鈥� in business or in sports 鈥� aren鈥檛 defined by how quickly they win, but by how sustainably they grow. Ishbia is playing the long game. 

Any business leader will tell you: transforming culture, modernizing operations, and laying the foundation for sustained success isn鈥檛 a one-season fix. It takes bold decisions, real investment, and the willingness to take some hits along the way. 

And let鈥檚 be honest 鈥� if Stephen A. Smith ever dipped his toes into actual leadership, political or otherwise, he might quickly find that standing on the sidelines is a lot easier than being in the arena. 

This isn鈥檛 just about basketball. It鈥檚 about the kind of leadership Arizona needs: people who show up, invest locally, empower talent, and build up the institutions that anchor our communities. 

Mat Ishbia isn鈥檛 just cutting checks 鈥� he鈥檚 creating infrastructure, opportunity, and culture that extends far beyond the court. He鈥檚 elevating teams, backing local nonprofits, and finding new ways to make Phoenix a city where fans, families, and future talent want to be. 

We support Mat because he supports Arizona. He鈥檚 making the kind of long-term, community-rooted investments that reflect the kind of leadership we should want more of 鈥� on the court and off. 

That鈥檚 not just good ownership. That鈥檚 good business. 

Someone should tell Stephen A: It鈥檚 a lot harder to build a team than to dunk on one from a TV studio.

Danny Seiden is the president and CEO of the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry