PHOENIX — Win at all costs. Some teams just talk about it, but the Suns are about that life. Team owner Mat Ishbia lives that life.
"The goal is to win a championship," Ishbia told 12Sports.
"Nobody is going to say Mat made this much money or lost this much money running the organization," Ishbia said. "Nobody cares, right? I have enough money humbly and nicely. I've done okay. My job is to help win a championship for the Mercury, for the Suns and we're gonna try to win a championship with the G-League. We're trying to win it. Everything we do. It's not something I just say. So if it cost $20 million more for this trade deadline change, but Royce O'Neale is going help us win, we're going to take that and we're going to go get some wins."
But one big question remains. Can this Suns team win a championship this season?
"I think we upgraded that roster," Ishbia said. "It takes time and people don't like to wait, just like I don't like to wait either. But the truth of the matter is, we got a great team. Our goal is to win an NBA championship."
Ishbia just passed the first anniversary of the day he bought the Suns and Mercury and few owners in sports have accomplished more during their first year.
He's traded for star players like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. He's planning facility upgrades and a new build, honored the Suns' history and he continues to improve the in-arena experience at the Footprint Center. Simply put, if it involves his team, it will be great.
"That's our north star every day," Ishbia said. "Are we doing something that helping us win? If not, let's do that. Everything we said, we're going to do. Hopefully, the fans and the community know that I work for them. And our job is to do what they want. I've been a fan my whole life. Hopefully, the fans feel that and recognize that we're all in. We're pushing forward trying to do the right thing, and we're not going to be perfect, but we're trying."
So as he walks around the arena on game nights talking with fans, he reminds them, "This is your team."
"They're excited to see me," Ishbia said. "They're appreciative of the trades and the players we have. They're excited about the team. They talk to me a lot of times about the Mercury and how we really put a lot of effort and energy into the Mercury. I love hearing that great feedback. And if something's not great, I tried to solve it."
Ishbia sat down with 12Sports after launching a new sports, entertainment and real estate investment group called Player 15. It will operate the Footprint Center, the Suns, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the newly acquired G-League team for the Suns. Up until now, the Suns were the only NBA franchise without a G-League team.
Paying homage to how the Phoenix Suns were named in a 1968 public contest, the new G-League team will be named via an online contest. The contest runs through Feb. 28 and the winning submission will receive free tickets to the inaugural NBA G-League season and a $1,000 cash prize. For a full list of rules, click here.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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