Based on what Mat Ishbia said on Wednesday at the Phoenix Suns' Media Day, he's well aware of the team's current standing. Spoiler alert: they're not close to winning a championship. Not yet, but Ishbia believes they can get there.
He pointed to where the Mercury were a few years ago, and where they are now (tied 1-1 in the second round of the playoffs with the Lynx). Ishbia envisions a similar situation for the Suns.
Ishbia said that success for Phoenix won't be measured in wins or losses, but by growth. He emphasized the importance of putting a product out on the floor that everyone enjoys watching, noting that the past couple of years had not been good enough.
Mat Ishbia on his expectations for the Suns this year:
— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) September 24, 2025
“We gotta enjoy watching this team again… what we’ve done the last couple of years hasn’t been good enough" pic.twitter.com/PZ9cnBgwvV
Again, that doesn't mean the Suns are pushing for the 2026 NBA Finals. Ishbia seems to finally understand that building the right culture and winning is a process. It's not something that happens overnight.
Mat Ishbia is excited for the Suns to finally be on the right path
The first move that Ishbia made after becoming owner was trading for Kevin Durant, a move that, in theory, put Phoenix closer to winning its first championship. The Suns thought they increased their odds even more later that summer when they traded for Bradley Beal. Neither of those players are on the roster anymore.
Phoenix's roster looks completely different from it did a few months ago, with the biggest change being several new, young faces (and a first-time head coach!). There are newcomers like Jalen Green, Khaman Maluach, Mark Williams, and Koby Brea, as well as returning young players like Ryan Dunn.
The 2025-26 season will be a learning process, but that doesn't mean that the Suns can't win some games along the way. They still have their face of the franchise, Devin Booker, who signed an extension this summer, reaffirming his commitment to the organization. There's Dillon Brooks, who knows what it's like to be a key contributor to a winning culture.
However, there isn't the same pressure of winning a title, unlike in the past couple of seasons. Believe it or not, but that's a good thing. Ishbia is realistic about where the Suns are at.
Based on everything he said on Wednesday, he's excited about restarting the process of building Phoenix into a team that can compete for championships. That process starts now.