Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia anticipates an apology from Stephen A. Smith after Smith labeled him as potentially “the worst owner in NBA history.” Following the dismissal of Phoenix’s third head coach in three years and a playoff absence despite having the highest payroll in the league, Smith attributed 98 percent of the blame to Ishbia on First Take.
“Mat Ishbia needs to understand that right now you are on the verge of being recognized as the worst owner in the history of basketball,” Smith stated, referencing notorious past owners like Donald Sterling and James Dolan. He argued that Ishbia is heading down a similar path.
In response to a reporter’s question during a Thursday morning press conference regarding Smith’s outlandish claims, Ishbia acknowledged the context.
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s full response when I asked him about Stephen A Smith’s notion that he’s “on the verge of becoming the worst team owner in sports history.”
Video credit to @azfamily pic.twitter.com/6rNrI5jkZj
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) April 17, 2025
“Stephen A. Smith, I don’t take much he says seriously. I don’t think many people do, to be honest with you,” Ishbia remarked, criticizing Smith’s comments about basketball stars like Kevin Durant and LeBron James as disrespectful. Ishbia expressed that he believes Smith might apologize because it is offensive to associate his name with those banned from the league, such as Sterling and former Suns owner Robert Sarver.
Smith’s comparison placed Ishbia alongside figures like Sterling, who was banned for life in 2014 following the revelation of racist comments, and Sarver, who faced a year-long suspension in 2022 after being implicated in racial and misogynistic behavior. These investigations highlighted their unacceptable conduct, which led to significant public backlash and eventual consequences.
While it’s arguable that Ishbia has faced challenges in his early ownership years, having traded away draft picks while straining the team’s salary cap, equating him with Sterling and Sarver overlooks the severity of their actions. “I think he’ll apologize,” Ishbia concluded, reflecting on the inappropriateness of Smith’s comments.
Smith has already issued a response, standing firm without an apology. He remarked, “I love how folks intentionally misconstrue just to avoid the real subject at hand,” and announced he would clarify his remarks on First Take the following Friday.
I look forward to responding to this on @FirstTake tomorrow morning. I love how folks intentionally misconstrue just to avoid the real subject at hand….what I was really saying. But that’s okay! I look very much forward to providing clarification. My pleasure. See y’all in the… https://t.co/xcXY29zi5S
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 17, 2025
It’s likely that Smith will claim his remarks were focused solely on basketball operations. However, by invoking the names of Sterling and Sarver, he has drawn a clear and intentional comparison to Ishbia during his tirade.
