Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has had the NBA franchise under his guidance for just over a year but has already made an impact in the league. The Michigan businessman and philanthropist was responsible for bringing 14-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant to Phoenix in a move that shocked the basketball world.
Ishbia’s $4 billion purchase of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury was a major story in the basketball world but not everyone was excited about the CEO of mortgage lender United Wholesale Mortgage coming onboard.
Over in Ohio, there was another owner heavily involved in the mortgage lending industry. Cleveland Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert (also the owner of Rocket Mortgage) share a longstanding rivalry that dates way back. When Ishbia was interested in taking over the Suns, Gilbert was the only NBA owner that chose to abstain during the vote.
In a recent voicemail that was leaked on social media, Ishbia can be heard going after his rival’s business.
“We f***ing took those c***suckers down. F**k them, and we’re gonna keep f*****g sticking it to ’em forever. F*** those guys, we’re number one,” said Ishbia.
Suns owner Mat Ishbia went off on Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's rival business in a leaked voicemail:
"We f**king took those c**ksuckers down. F**k them, and we're gonna keep f**king sticking it to 'em forever. F**k those guys, we're number one."
MUCH more from a bombshell… pic.twitter.com/cf8TrsMWU8
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) April 2, 2024
The fact that the Phoenix Suns are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night in Phoenix makes this story that much more fascinating.
Along with the current rivalry between the two owners, the game holds added significance considering both these teams are still jostling for playoff seeding. The Cavaliers are currently third in the Eastern Conference with a 45-30 record. The Suns are doing their best to avoid the play-in, and are currently two games ahead of the 9th place Los Angeles Lakers.
