Mat Ishbia's media day comments on Suns' roster should terrify Devin Booker

The Phoenix Suns held their official media day ahead of the 2025-26 season on Wednesday, and owner Mat Ishbia came out swinging. He was first up to address the assembled journalists - and while he accepted blame for the shortcomings of the last couple of seasons - he was also quick to point out all that the franchise has gotten right as well.

Much of this centered on the fan experience - except for the product on the court - as well as how good the WNBA franchise in the Mercury have also come along. Ishbia the revealed that this coming campaign would be less about wins and losses, and instead about creating the culture and identity that has been lacking in The Valley since he took over.

Suns being a team in ascendancy should terrify Devin Booker.

As part of his monologue on where the Suns are at right now, Ishbia made the seemingly innocent comment of claiming that this roster is one that is "in the ascendancy". This is both correct and a positive, and it could also be viewed as a parting shot at Kevin Durant. His tenure did not work out, and it is also clear that he wasn't quite at the peak of his powers either, although still incredible.

With three rookies and a pair of returning second year guys in Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro now in the mix - with 11 new faces in Phoenix compared to this time last year - the change that the organization is looking for is happening right in front of Devin Booker. Only it is clear from Ishbia's words that he believes this team is still some years away from reaching their full potential.

When you're a 28-year-old superstar bang in their prime, time is not something you have nearly as much of anymore. This is somehow year 11 for Booker in The Valley, and at the very earliest he is two years away from contending again. That happening would require a level of luck for the Suns that we've simply never seen before either.

So while Ishbia has seemingly become more accepting of a long-term approach, it is not ideal for Booker and the "unfinished business" he says he has with the Suns. Then again - when you sign on through the rest of the decade to earn an obscene amount of money - you can't do any complaining publicly.

This is also the first time since buying the franchise that - to the media at least - Ishbia has said something that would appear to be in complete contradiction to where his star player is at. We know that cutting corners and trading for Durant and Bradley Beal didn't work, but that was at least an aggressive form of trying to improve. We'll see how the sit tight and trust the process era goes.