Ishbia takes over Suns, works to improve team culture

By DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX (AP) — Mat Ishbia has been introduced as the new majority owner of the Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. The NBA’s board of governors on Monday night approved his plan to purchase the controlling stake of those franchises from the embattled Robert Sarver. The crowd for Ishbia’s high-energy speech included former Suns players Kevin Johnson, Tom Chambers and Dan Majerle. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego was also in attendance. The 43-year-old Ishbia’s first order of business is cleaning up an organization that was rocked after the NBA suspended Sarver for one year after an investigation found he had engaged in what the league called “workplace misconduct and organizational deficiencies.”