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<\/p>\nThe Phoenix Suns unraveled the past season, a roster stacked with star power and guided by an owner who didn\u2019t mind swinging for the fences. But that vision quickly fell apart. Now, with Kevin Durant gone, the dust settles on one of the most disappointing eras in recent franchise history. But Suns owner Mat Ishbia is already pointing to a different kind of blueprint for redemption, one that\u2019s quietly playing out next door with Phoenix\u2019s other professional basketball team. And it might just work.<\/p>\n
Long before Durant was traded, before Bradley Beal was stretched and waived, and before the Phoenix Suns reset everything but Devin Booker, Mat Ishbia already had a test case running in the same city: the Phoenix Mercury. \u201cWhen I bought the Suns, I thought we were on third base,\u201d Ishbia said recently. \u201cBut I didn\u2019t define the vision, the culture, what we wanted. We tried spending some money and supporting what was there. It didn\u2019t work. We all saw that.\u201d<\/p>\n
In contrast, Ishbia\u2019s takeover of the Mercury came with immediate, sweeping changes. He fired the coach, replaced the GM, and built a young, hungry team. And now? The Mercury sits just one win away from securing the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs. In just two years, they\u2019ve gone from the league\u2019s basement to legitimate contenders, fueled by youth and a clear team identity. <\/p>\n
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The exact ingredients the Suns sorely lacked with their \u201csuper team\u201d model.\u201cThe Suns are two years behind the Mercury,\u201d Ishbia admitted. \u201cBut we\u2019re doing the same thing. No shortcuts this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
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via Imago<\/p>\n
Jan 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) with guard Bradley Beal (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
There was no need to rehash what went wrong with Durant, Beal, and Booker. That trio had all the talent in the world, but none of the cohesion or fight fans expected. The Suns sputtered to a 36\u201346 record in 2024\u201325 and missed the playoffs entirely, leading to the firing of head coach Mike Budenholzer and a front-office shakeup.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Ishbia\u2019s message is rooted in accountability, and the process is a far cry from the frantic spending and rushed trades that defined his first two seasons in charge of the Suns<\/a>. \u201cI know what kind of guys I want,\u201d Ishbia added. \u201cWe ain\u2019t trading for guys who aren\u2019t like this.\u201d It\u2019s a recognition that culture can\u2019t be bought. And, more importantly, it\u2019s a promise to make amends and turn the tide around.<\/p>\n Ishbia marks a new era in Phoenix<\/b><\/p>\n The Suns gave up a haul to get Durant<\/a> and ultimately couldn\u2019t build around him. And while he still performed at an elite level, averaging 26.6 points per game last season, his presence didn\u2019t translate to wins or joy. \u201cEmbarrassing season, right?\u201d Ishbia said. \u201cAwful. I watch every game like all of you guys do. No one\u2019s proud of it.\u201d <\/p>\n