INDIANAPOLIS – During The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, they had an interview with Phoenix Suns Owner Mat Ishbia talking about his post on X, calling out tanking in the NBA.
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Mercury owner Ishbia announces the Ring of Honor proceedings during the home opener at the Footprint Center on Saturday, May 18, 2024. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
When Mat Ishbia went on The Pat McAfee Show and called tanking “an embarrassment” and “horrible,” it wasn’t idle rhetoric. It was an owner publicly drawing a line in a league still wrestling with competitive ethics.
Mat Ishbia appears on The Pat McAfee Show:
“It’s an embarrassment. It’s horrible. … I think it’s bad for the NBA.”
—Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia on NBA teams tanking ✍️
(via @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/WjsJP3sZov
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 25, 2026
Suns and Mercury owner Ishbia speaks during the grand opening of the Mercury’s new practice facility and unveiling of the Diana Taurasi dedicated courts on Thursday, July 18, 2024. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ishbia didn’t just criticize the concept. He revived his earlier support of Adam Silver’s crackdown on teams manipulating outcomes for lottery position. Nationally, his comments land at a pressure point. Small-market teams argue that tanking is the only viable path to contention. But the data shows that player development infrastructure, cap management, and organizational stability outperform deliberate losing over time. Sustained relevance builds equity; tanking mortgages it.
Dec 31, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Suns owner Ishbia applauds during the first half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
For Suns fans, this isn’t theoretical. In a Western Conference arms race, waving the white flag would fracture trust in a market that just invested emotionally and financially. Ishbia’s message is simple: wanting to compete now, no matter what the cost is. Ownership philosophy is becoming a competitive advantage. Ishbia understands that in an era of player empowerment and fan transparency, intent matters. Winning culture isn’t accidental. It’s built and demanded internally. In Phoenix, that declaration just echoed across the league.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
