Ishbia's Power Play: Suns' Ownership Tug-of-War Hits Mediation

Here's the deal: The Phoenix Suns, fresh off a truly bizarre 49-33 season that ended with a whimper against the Minnesota Timberwolves, are heading into another offseason mired in off-court drama. This time, it’s about who actually owns the team. Mat Ishbia, who bought the controlling stake from Robert Sarver for a cool $4 billion in February 2023, is reportedly squaring off with two minority partners, Jahm Najafi and Sam Garvin, over their combined 13% stake. They're going into confidential binding mediation, and it feels like a foregone conclusion that Ishbia will end up buying them out.

You remember the Sarver saga, right? The NBA’s investigation, the year-long suspension, the pressure to sell. Najafi, in particular, was vocal, publicly calling for Sarver's resignation in September 2022. That kind of public pressure isn't easily forgotten, especially by a new owner like Ishbia who shelled out an unprecedented amount for the franchise. Ishbia’s initial purchase price was the highest ever for an NBA team, eclipsing the $2.35 billion Tilman Fertitta paid for the Rockets in 2017. He clearly wants full control, or as close to it as possible.

**Consolidating Control, On and Off the Court**

Since taking over, Ishbia hasn't been shy about making his mark. He immediately greenlit the Kevin Durant trade, sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, and a 2028 pick swap to the Nets just days after his purchase was finalized. That’s a bold move for any owner, let alone one still getting his feet wet. The team then went 8-0 with Durant in the lineup during the 2022-23 regular season, only to fall apart in the playoffs. This past season saw the Suns finish as the sixth seed, barely avoiding the Play-In Tournament, and getting swept by the Wolves. That kind of on-court inconsistency, despite a massive payroll, likely only fuels Ishbia’s desire for a unified front in the front office and ownership suite.

Real talk: Najafi and Garvin have been part of the Suns’ ownership group since 2004, back in the Steve Nash "Seven Seconds or Less" era. They've seen the highs and the very, very low lows. But their involvement has always been as minority partners. Ishbia’s vision for the Suns, which includes significant investment in player facilities and a new practice complex, seems to be a solo act. He’s already brought in his brother, Justin Ishbia, as an alternate governor. When an owner starts shuffling the deck like that, it usually means he's clearing the path for his own agenda. It’s hard to imagine two entrenched minority owners, especially one who publicly called for the previous owner's head, fitting neatly into that plan. My hot take? This mediation isn't about finding common ground; it's about negotiating a price.

This isn't just about personalities; it's about power and direction. The Suns are in a critical juncture with Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal locked into massive contracts. They need absolute clarity from top to bottom. A lingering ownership dispute is the last thing this franchise needs as they try to retool around their aging, expensive core. Ishbia wants to build a winner, and he wants to do it his way. Getting full control of that 13% stake is the next logical step in solidifying his command.

I predict that by the start of the next NBA season, Mat Ishbia will own 100% of the Phoenix Suns, and the minority partners will be long gone.