Phoenix Suns

The deal, which values the Phoenix basketball teams at $4 billion, was expected to close this week, transferring ownership away from Robert Sarver after a ...

The Suns have never won an N.B.A. The N.B.A.’s trading deadline is Thursday, and the Suns could be looking to make moves. The Suns (29-26) were fifth in the Western Conference entering Monday night’s games. The Mercury have won three W.N.B.A. Ishbia, 43, announced in December that he had agreed to buy the teams from Robert Sarver, who had been pushed to sell the team amid a scandal. Sarver was not forced to sell the teams, but he said that he would do so because of a swell of backlash, including from the star Suns guard Chris Paul. He was also found to have used a racial slur for Black people several times. Ishbia, who became a billionaire after entering the mortgage business, said in December that he was “confident that we can bring that same level of success” to the Suns and the Mercury. He said his brother Justin Ishbia would be a major investor. The Cavaliers are owned by Dan Gilbert, who founded Ishbia’s mortgage industry rival, Rocket Mortgage. Mat Ishbia, in a statement in December, said that basketball “is at the core of my life” and that owning the teams was a “dream come true for my entire family.” He played basketball at Michigan State in the early 2000s. Commissioner Adam Silver suspended Sarver for one year and fined him $10 million after an investigation found that Sarver had mistreated employees — particularly women — over many years.

Mat Ishbia will not be giving former New York Knicks president of basketball operations Isiah Thomas a role in the Suns' front office.

[Thomas said back in 2021](https://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/27337/detroit_pistons_bad_boy_isiah_thomas_and_mortgage_ceo_interested_in_nba_team) he was close with Ishbia and that the new Suns owner has helped advise him in the business space. Thomas was found to have created, and $5.6 million because Ms. Browne Sanders was fired for complaining about it. Dolan’s share is $3 million; the Garden is liable for the rest. Of that figure, $6 million was awarded because of the hostile work environment Mr. [A jury ruled in favor of her](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/sports/basketball/03garden-cnd.html) and that she was entitled to $11.6 million from Madison Square Garden and Knicks owner James Dolan.

Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges each had big nights for the Phoenix Suns in a win over the Brooklyn Nets.

That is going to be an adjustment for both Booker and Bridges to deal with the next couple of weeks. It was crucial growth for both those two and the Suns’ system that they hope can be called back upon when the games really matter in April and May. Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas scored 43 points, making it an absurd streak of three straight games for the second-year guard with 40-plus. Booker likes to use this to advantage sometimes by turning that defender into a super screen. That was reflected in perhaps the game’s biggest sequence. It’s why the outcry for Ayton and Bridges to be featured more prominently in the Suns’ offense has repeatedly come. Ayton tied his career high of 35 points and grabbed 15 rebounds while shooting 14-of-18 (77.8%) from the field. In an offense like the Suns’, the ball will naturally find him if he does that. But the way Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges starred in a 116-112 win is why their development is so important. Check out how he opens up space for Paul here. [February 8, 2023] Ayton’s scoring production by quarter was six, 11, nine and nine.

The NBA board of governors has approved the sale of the Phoenix Suns and the WNBA's Mercury to billionaire mortgage lender Mat Ishbia.

"I personally look forward to working with him and am honored to continue as Vice Chairman and Alternate on the NBA Board of Governors. That investigation came after a [2021 ESPN report](/nba/story?_slug_=phoenix-suns-robert-sarver-allegations-racism-misogyny&id=32440987) that centered on Sarver's conduct during his tenure as majority owner, which began in 2004. Of the Suns' nearly 20-member ownership group under Sarver, there are only four minority partners who are retaining their full stake in the team, with their shares comprising nearly a quarter of the team. Even after taxes, Sarver is expected to clear nearly double the amount that he and a group paid for the team in 2004 -- then a record $401 million from former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo. The two companies are considered the top two largest mortgage lenders in America and have a fierce rivalry. I love the game of basketball deeply but it's so much more than that for me."

The former Michigan State basketball player is the chairman, president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage.

The Ishbia Brothers’ business acumen and passion for the game will invigorate the Suns and Mercury in the continued effort to compete at a championship level. As the NBA’s youngest controlling owner and a former college basketball player, Mat will be in a unique position to create strategic opportunities within the greater Phoenix community that reflect the Suns’ and Mercury’s shared commitment to excellence on and off the court. UWM has been recognized within the financial services industry and beyond receiving awards from Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance, Fortune’s Best Place to Work for Millennials, Forbes’ Best-in-State Employer, and Great Place To Work®, which reflects the culture UWM has collectively built. Mat is the chairman, president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), the number one overall mortgage lender in the nation. Justin is also a member of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust and Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry Board. With the transaction, Mat becomes Governor of the Suns and Mercury while Justin Ishbia, CEO and Founder of Shore Capital Partners, becomes the second largest shareholder and Alternate Governor.

Mat Ishbia is the new majority owner of the Phoenix Suns and WNBA's Mercury, after the NBA's board of governors approved the sale of the teams.

The sale was finalized hours after Jason Rowley — who was the Suns president and CEO — decided to leave the team in anticipation of the leadership changes, a person familiar with the matter told AP. He bought the Suns in 2004 for $401 million, which at the time was an NBA record. Mat Ishbia is the chairman, president and chief executive of United Wholesale Mortgage, which bills itself as the nation’s largest mortgage lender. 20 to the deal, one that put the total value of the Suns and Mercury at $4 billion. They now can assume those roles just days before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, and with the Suns squarely in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race. The vote was 29-0, with the Cleveland Cavaliers abstaining, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the final decision had not yet been announced publicly.

Mat Ishbia, chairman and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), and his brother Justin, are buying 50% ownership of the franchises.

[went public](http://housingwire.com/articles/united-wholesale-mortgage-uwm-makes-public-debut/) in January 2022 after merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) named Gores Holdings IV. The seller is Robert Sarver, managing partner of Suns Legacy Holdings, which owns the Phoenix Suns and Mercury. Mat Ishbia was a walk-on player for the men’s basketball program under Head Coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State University. The team was ultimately sold for They are also acquiring a portion of the interest of minority partners, who were granted additional sale rights. The NBA said in a news release that the deal is expected to close this week, and both teams will change hands for the first time in 19 years.

The updated injury reports for the Phoenix Suns and the Brooklyn Nets have been released ahead of their Tuesday night matchup.

Phoenix Suns are 9-2 in their last 11 games after Tuesday's win at Brooklyn as Devin Booker returned after missing 21 games with a left groin strain.

Probably still kicking himself over that because as Booker put it, the only thing he could do is shoot free throws while out with the injury. He’s punishing the switches and his teammates are finding him. Cam Johnson, Chris Paul, Bridges, Ayton and Booker have only now started seven games together. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or contact him at 480-787-1240. Thomas led all scorers with 43 in becoming the youngest player in NBA history to post three straight 40-point games. They haven’t started together since Nov. He shot a combined 27-of-33 from the field in the two games. Then with the game on the line, Booker missed those two free throws. The Suns big posted his second career 30 and 15 game Tuesday after posting his first career one – 31 and 16 – in Saturday’s win at Detroit. Ayton had dealt with ankle injuries and an illness in a season that began with him saying he and his head coach, Williams, hadn’t talked during the summer. The 21-year-old guard scored 13 of his 43 in the fourth as Brooklyn (32-22) cut a 12-point Phoenix lead with 2:04 remaining to one with 6.7 seconds left before Paul hit two free throws. Ayton tied a career high with 35 points to go along with 15 rebounds while Mikal Bridges added 21 points and eight rebounds for the surging Suns (30-26), who are 9-2 in their last 11 games.

Thomas last held a front office NBA role with the Knicks back in 2008.

After that, Thomas became the men's basketball head coach at FIU, where he compiled a 26-65 record in three seasons before being fired in 2012. He was ultimately fired following the 2007-08 season, finishing with a combined record of 56-108. Knicks team owner James Dolan and Madison Square Garden were responsible for paying the settlement, while Thomas was not found personally liable. In 2007 a jury awarded former Knicks executive, Anucha Browne Sanders, $11.6 million in punitive damages [stemming from the sexual harassment lawsuit](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/sports/basketball/03garden-cnd.html). But a spokesperson for Ishbia has refuted that initial report, saying "Thomas won't have a position in the team's front office, and isn't part of the team transition," [per the Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin.](https://twitter.com/duanerankin/status/1623135862388031489?s=46&t=8WTdGxbolHoB5nLBU_SyAw) "I've called on him quite frequently in the past to help me navigate some of our growing pains and likewise, so we have shared advice with each other.

Billionaire mortgage lender Matt Ishbia is officially the new team owner of the Phoenix Suns, the NBA announced Tuesday afternoon.

For those reasons, I am beginning the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury." "As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness," Sarver said in a statement on Sept, 21. Having Ishbia approved as team owner is major for the Suns with the trade deadline being Thursday. This process began when Sarver decided to sell the Suns and Mercury a week after the NBA announced on Sept. "I personally look forward to working with him and am honored to continue as Vice Chairman and Alternate on the NBA Board of Governors. "My brother and I look forward to bringing our passion for basketball and competitive spirit to The Valley.” MT on Wednesday introducing Ishbia as the new majority owner of the Suns and Mercury. Ishbia also will become the majority owner of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. I am honored to be the next steward of this community’s franchises in the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury and am totally committed tobuilding an incredible organization on and off the floor.” Ishbia is chairman, president and CEO of Michigan-based United Wholesale Mortgage, the leading mortgage lender in America. I love the game of basketball deeply but it’s somuch more than that for me.” Ishbia said in a Suns news release. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or contact him at 480-787-1240.

Ayton matched his career high with 35 points, Booker scored 19 in his first game since Christmas and the Suns held off Cam Thomas and the Brooklyn Nets 116-112 ...

They opted not to play Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith, the players they acquired from Dallas in the trade for Irving. ... Coach Jacque Vaughn said Durant continues to progress well in his recovery but still hasn't been involved in the any portions of practice where there is contact. Warren had 17 points each for the Nets, who lost on back-to-back nights after trading Kyrie Irving and fell to 5-9 without the injured Kevin Durant. He had 44 and a career-high 47 points in his previous two games, but the Nets are 1-2 during Thomas' run. ''The team has it rolling right now, so just insert myself in a way that wasn't disruptive and try to keep the flow that they have.'' He then fouled Ayton, who finished it off with two free throws after going 14 for 18 from the field and grabbing 15 rebounds.