American Businessman and Former NCAA Champion Member Mat Ishbia Buys Suns for Record Price

Last Updated on 12/21/2022 by てんしょく飯

On December 20, American businessman Mat Ishbia agreed to purchase a majority stake in the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), Ishbia himself and suspended owner Robert Sarver announced.

He had indicated his intention to sell the team.

The Suns had indicated in September that they intended to sell the team after owner Sarver was suspended for one year for racial and sex discrimination. Therefore, it is now certain that Ishbia will be the owner going forward.

The price that attracted attention this time was $4 billion (about 528 billion yen). This was the highest price ever, surpassing the $2.35 billion (¥310.2 billion) that Joe Tsai bought the Brooklyn Nets for in 2019.

Ishbia is a businessman who serves as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), a Michigan mortgage company known to NBA team owners and Commissioner Adam Silver. As a member of Michigan State University, he won the NCAA Tournament Championship in 2000.