In position 234 of the prestigious ‘Forbes’ list appears Mat Ishbia (1980). He is the CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, the first mortgage lending company in the United States of America. In his ‘suitcase’ there are 5 billion dollars and one of the largest fortunes on the planet. A ‘rich’ who… revolutionizes the NBA. Since his arrival at the Phoenix Suns just take steps forward to make them more than just a champion team. A transcendent one.
Ishbia is not a nouveau riche who on a whim decides to buy a sports club. He played basketball reaching the NCAA with the Michigan State University that was crowned in the 1999-00 season with players like Jason Richardson. But his life path led him to be the largest mortgage originator in a giant like the United States.
The bombshell of the season in the NBA: Kevin Durant goes to the Suns!
With that background context, the decision to buy the Phoenix Suns when everything blew up is understandable. Robert Sarver had to leave the team after the degrading treatment of his employees. Ishbia passed the tests that the NBA requires and He took command coinciding with the ‘Trade Deadline’ or end of the transfer market. His first decision was to hit the table: Kevin Durant. A different mind. Business and business, knowing which pillars to apply in sport.
Suns fans welcome Durant
It didn’t take long to get up the phone and in an exchange in which he did not have to give any key piece beyond Mikal Bridges. A winning move for a team that had already reached the NBA finals two years ago. He bought the team for 4,000 million dollars – an NBA record. Besides, he wants to win and he wants it now. “The vision is to be the leading franchise in the NBA. We need a winning culture. Reassure people. It’s not about winning this year. It’s also in 2027, 2029 and 2031,” he confessed.
the ishbia war
Ishbia arrives in the NBA and already has an enemy… He lives almost irreconcilable differences with Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cavs, over an extra-sports matter. In business, since Gilbert leads Quicken Loans, the rival company of his. But that carries over to basketball since Gilbert voted abstention when the arrival of Ishbia to the Suns. And if they are measured… “We will kick his ass,” said the one from the Arizona franchise.
Ishbia changes the rules. “There are no risks. It’s a vision and a decision. We make decisions and we execute them. It doesn’t mean I’m going to win multiple championships.you must play But I don’t have anything in my life that I don’t want to win with, “he said. He’s coming to eat the world. It all started with Kevin Durant.
