Suns Ownership Dispute Moves to Binding Mediation; Tough Schedule Looms for Playoff Push
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The legal battle between Phoenix Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia and minority partners Andy Kohlberg and Scott Seldin is headed for confidential, binding mediation, according to a filing Monday in Delaware state court. Both sides asked the judge overseeing the case to authorize the process, which would result in the lawsuit’s dismissal once mediation is complete.
Background on the Lawsuit
Kohlberg and Seldin, minority stakeholders in both the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, sued Ishbia in August 2025, alleging a lack of transparency and claiming he treated the franchises as personal assets. Ishbia countersued in October, accusing the pair of using litigation to secure an outsized buyout of their shares.
Road to the Playoffs
Phoenix (39-28) has 15 games remaining and faces the NBA’s third-hardest closing schedule, notes Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. The Suns sit seventh in the Western Conference and are trying to climb into the top six to avoid the play-in tournament. The club wraps up a six-game trip with contests at Boston, Minnesota and San Antonio over the next four nights.
“Every game is super important,” guard Collin Gillespie said. “We’ve got to take it one game at a time. Can’t have mental lapses.”
Slip-Up in Toronto
The Suns’ playoff push suffered a setback Friday when a loss to the Raptors snapped a four-game winning streak. “Communication’s got to be on point,” forward Royce O’Neale said after defensive breakdowns cost Phoenix in Toronto.
Gillespie Seeking Consistency
Gillespie, who poured in 24 points against Charlotte on March 9, was held scoreless in 26 minutes versus Toronto and finished with four points in 28 minutes the night before at Indiana. The 24-year-old guard, on a one-year minimum contract and averaging 13.2 points, said he must keep “hunting threes” and be ready to catch and shoot. Gillespie becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Source: Hoops Rumors
