The Phoenix Suns are officially opening training camp, but owner Mat Ishbia went straight for the elephant in the room on Monday: the team’s controversial offseason acquisition of forward Miles Bridges. Ishbia didn’t mince words, flat-out calling Bridges’ past actions “unacceptable” and “completely wrong.”
Ishbia’s Money Talk: All-In for Decades?
Before diving into the player drama, Ishbia also used Media Day to send a clear message about his financial commitment to the Suns. He dismissed concerns about his business, United Wholesale Mortgage, impacting the team’s finances, stating it’ll have “zero” effect. And get this: the guy just bought another 14% of the team, bringing his personal ownership stake to a staggering 80%! He’s not just playing around, either. Ishbia declared he’s “buying more of the team” and plans to “own this team for 40-50 years.” Talk about a long-term vision. He even promised fans they’ll “still going to do crazy things” and confirmed he’ll “still going to pay the luxury tax.” Ishbia wrapped it up saying, “I don’t own the team, it’s the city’s team.” Sounds like a man who knows how to talk to a fanbase.
The Bridges Backlash and Ishbia’s Stance
But let’s be real, the big story was Miles Bridges. Ishbia had to address the elephant in the room head-on, because in 2022, Bridges pleaded no contest to a domestic abuse charge and was put on probation. There were even later accusations of him violating probation, though a criminal summons was eventually dropped. Ishbia was clear, saying, “Off the court, what Miles did was unacceptable. Cannot be condoned by anyone in America. That’s just completely wrong.” He did acknowledge that Bridges “has been held accountable, he’s shown remorse,” but then hammered home the organization’s standards: “We have standards here in Phoenix, and that’s not to our standards, and that will not be allowed near that type of level here in Phoenix.” It’s a tricky line to walk when you sign a player with that history, and Ishbia made his position as clear as he could, given the situation.
Booker, Maluach, and the Offseason Grind
Away from the boardroom drama and tough questions, the actual basketball side of things still brought that typical Media Day optimism. Head coach Jordan Ott, who led the Suns to an eighth-place finish in the Western Conference and a play-in spot last season, said they “definitely feel like we’re in a good spot.” But he quickly added, “nothing’s ever taken for granted with any of us, knowing how hard it is to repeat success or to even build on it.” Star guard Devin Booker, now 30 years old, sounded ready to roll, noting his body “feels as good as it’s ever felt heading into a training camp.” Booker highlighted the team’s offseason work, with everyone getting together for workouts in the Valley and trips to Toronto, Las Vegas, and Flagstaff. “We got together a few times as a full team,” he said. “We all met in (Las) Vegas. We all were in Flagstaff. And this past month, we’ve been running a lot of open gym, probably three times a week.” He even dished on second-year center Khaman Maluach reaching out to work out individually, saying, “I think that guard-and-big relationship is super important.” Guard Jalen Green echoed the sentiment, praising the team-building, saying “Everybody has been grinding together, from young guys to the vets.” It sounds like they’re putting in the work.
So, as the Suns kick off training camp, there’s a mix of owner Mat Ishbia’s bold promises and tough talk, alongside the usual player optimism about offseason gains. They’re trying to build on that eighth-place finish, but with Ishbia’s strong statements on and off the court, it’s clear the stakes are high for what’s ahead in Phoenix.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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