Suns owner Mat Ishbia preaches ‘continuity’ after playoff return

The Suns have been anything but stable in recent years. That may be changing.

Team owner Mat Ishbia struck a different tone at his end-of-season availability, emphasizing “continuity” after multiple summers of major roster moves.

“I like the culture that we’ve built,” Ishbia said, via The Athletic’s Doug Haller. “We’re not going to do anything silly to mess that up.”

Phoenix won 45 games and returned to the playoffs, outperforming expectations after a 36-win season the year before. The Suns were swept in the first round by the reigning champion Thunder, but Ishbia views the year as a step forward.

“Can we win more games? Can we win a playoff series?” he said. “That’s what we’re going to focus on.”

General manager Brian Gregory echoed that approach, pointing to internal growth over outside changes.

“This is an ongoing process,” Gregory said, via Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.

There is belief in the core. Gregory said he is confident Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green will look better together with more time.

The message is clear. Less overhaul. More development. Whether that is enough in a loaded Western Conference is the real question.