Mat Ishbia Responds to Stephen A. Smith’s Criticism: 'I Think He’ll Apologize

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia is not pleased with ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith's recent comments about him. During the team’s season-end news conference on Thursday, Ishbia addressed Smith’s remark that he was "on the verge of being recognized as the worst owner in NBA history." While Ishbia dismissed Smith’s critique, he hinted that an apology might be coming soon.

“I don’t take much of what Stephen A. Smith says seriously,” Ishbia said, according to the Arizona Republic. “I don’t think many people do, to be honest with you.”

Smith made the controversial statement earlier this week on “First Take,” claiming that Ishbia's handling of the Suns so far had put him on a path toward being one of the worst owners in NBA history. "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 remarked. He even compared Ishbia’s trajectory to that of former Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was banned from the NBA and forced to sell the team due to racist comments.

While Smith’s comparison to Sterling raised eyebrows, Ishbia rejected the idea, emphasizing that his tenure hasn't mirrored the toxicity of Sterling or his predecessor, Robert Sarver. Sarver's tenure with the Suns was marred by allegations of racism, misogyny, and a toxic workplace culture, which led to his sale of the team to Ishbia in 2023 for $4 billion.

Although the Suns' performance under Ishbia has been disappointing, missing the playoffs with a 34-46 record despite the acquisition of stars Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, Ishbia maintains that the comparison to Sterling is unfair. The Suns' struggles this season included firing coach Mike Budenholzer and dealing with an incomplete roster, as Durant’s mid-season trade failed to materialize.

Ishbia conceded that the season was a failure but pointed out that almost every NBA owner has faced challenges in their early years. He also emphasized that Smith was out of line with his comments. "If he wants to say that the first two and a half years under my ownership, we didn’t win a championship, I think you could probably say that about almost every owner," Ishbia said. “But to even say that kind of stuff, I think he’ll apologize. I think he was out of line, and I think he knows that.”

Regarding the Sterling comparison, Ishbia made it clear he does not think it will hold up in the long run, suggesting that Smith will apologize for linking his name with a former owner who was banned from the league. "It’s disrespectful to put my name aligned with anybody that was kicked out of the league or no longer part of it," Ishbia added.