Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia is catching heat for his fiery response to an ESPN poll, but an unlikely NBA star is stepping up to defend him! Draymond Green is backing Ishbia amidst team struggles, controversial hires, and even lawsuits. Is this a display of loyalty or a sign of more drama brewing in the desert?
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has recently found himself embroiled in controversy, drawing significant backlash for his outspoken response to ESPN’s latest insiders poll. Amidst this storm, an unexpected figure, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, has publicly come to Ishbia’s defense, sparking further discussion across the league regarding the Suns’ tumultuous trajectory.
The core of the recent uproar stemmed from ESPN’s annual predictions for the 2025-26 NBA season, where the Phoenix Suns were projected to be among the teams most likely to decline, tying for third place. Ishbia, in a characteristic display of defiance, publicly dismissed the poll’s findings, citing the alleged inaccuracy of past predictions regarding his team’s contender status in prior seasons. He argued that experts often miss the mark, a point he illustrated with the Suns’ own recent performances.
Indeed, the Phoenix Suns, boasting a much-touted “Big 3” of star players, failed to meet expectations in recent postseasons. Despite considerable investment and hype, the team was swept in the first round of the 2024 playoffs and surprisingly missed the postseason entirely in 2025, finishing 11th in the Western Conference with a disappointing 36-46 record. These underachievements led to the departures of key players, directly influencing the lowered NBA predictions for the upcoming season, forecasting a 13th-place finish in the West.
While Mat Ishbia’s assertion that teams can defy expectations holds merit – as the NBA frequently sees underdog narratives unfold – his decision to leverage his own team’s recent failings as a rhetorical shield was arguably ill-advised. The owner himself had expressed immense optimism for the Suns in past seasons, which ultimately did not materialize into on-court success, making his current stance somewhat contradictory. His unwavering confidence, however, has been a hallmark of his Basketball Ownership since acquiring the team for a staggering $4 billion valuation in 2023.
Draymond Green’s vocal support for Mat Ishbia, while perhaps surprising to some, is rooted in a shared connection: both are distinguished alumni of Michigan State University. Green has openly expressed admiration for Ishbia’s strategic moves during the recent offseason, particularly applauding the owner’s apparent vision and commitment to shaping the Phoenix Suns’ future, even amidst the team’s ongoing struggles and fan criticism, adding to the Suns Controversy.
However, Ishbia’s offseason decisions, specifically the appointments of Jordan Ott as head coach, Brian Gregory as general manager, and Mateen Cleaves as player development coach, have raised eyebrows across the league. All three individuals possess direct ties to Michigan State, prompting questions about the rationale behind these hires and whether they represent a masterstroke in team building or a potentially misguided strategy. The true impact of these decisions remains to be seen on the court, contributing to NBA News discussions.
Beyond the court and coaching staff, the Suns organization faces significant off-court turbulence. Reports indicate that minority owners Andy Kohlberg and Scott Seldin have initiated legal action against the team, alleging that Ishbia has denied them access to internal records, a right they are entitled to as stakeholders. This lawsuit is not an isolated incident; it marks the sixth legal challenge against the Phoenix Suns since November 2024, with previous allegations encompassing discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wrongful termination, painting a troubling picture of the team’s internal environment.
Despite these myriad challenges, one aspect of Ishbia’s tenure that has garnered some positive attention is his willingness to invest heavily in the team. Last season, the Suns reportedly commanded the highest payroll in the league, exceeding $210 million. Yet, this substantial financial outlay inadvertently served as a stark reminder that monetary investment alone does not guarantee championship success, as the team ultimately fell short of its lofty aspirations, furthering the Mat Ishbia narrative.
