Ishbia Says Suns Are Moving Toward Hard-Nosed Style, But Work Remains
ishbia-says-suns-making-strides-toward-tough-identity
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia believes the club has begun to adopt the hard-edged style he demanded heading into the 2025/26 season, yet he cautions that the transformation is incomplete.
“It’s not all the way there yet,” Ishbia said during the preseason. “I’m really happy with where we’re at, but at the same time, we have a long way to go… doing it for 48 minutes and then doing it for 48 minutes for 82 games, there’s still a process.”
Ott’s Competitive Practices Set the Tone
First-year head coach Jordan Ott has emphasized toughness and defense through highly competitive practices, according to The Athletic. The approach paid off on Wednesday, when Phoenix opened the regular season with a comeback victory over Sacramento that mirrored Ott’s own reputation for resiliency.
Nash Returns as Senior Advisor
Last month Ishbia brought franchise icon Steve Nash back to the organization as a senior advisor. Nash, who is also serving as an analyst for Amazon Prime Video, described himself as a “sounding board” for a club led by rookie coach Ott and rookie general manager Brian Gregory. “I’m there as a resource, to share my experiences,” Nash said.
Williams Makes Impactful Debut
Offseason addition Mark Williams debuted Wednesday, delivering six points and 11 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench while posting a game-high plus-15. “It felt good. The energy in the arena was great,” the center said after the win. Williams is on a minutes restriction and will enter restricted free agency next summer.
Valley Suns Finalize Coaching Staff
Phoenix’s G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, announced its coaching staff in a team press release.
The Suns continue the regular season schedule with Ishbia and Ott stressing full-game intensity as the next step in the club’s identity shift.
Source: Hoops Rumors
