Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has criticized ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith for calling him one of the worst owners in NBA history. Ishbia, while not taking the comments seriously, expects an apology from Smith in the near future. Smith had criticized Ishbia's management of the Suns, comparing him to former owner Donald Sterling, but Ishbia defended himself, pointing out that he is not on the same level as Sterling, who was banned from the NBA for making racist comments.
Despite the Suns' disappointing performance this season and Ishbia acknowledging the team's failures, he believes Smith's remarks were unwarranted. Ishbia highlighted the challenges the team faced, including missing the playoffs and multiple coaching changes. Ishbia expressed confidence that Smith will apologize for his comments, emphasizing that he should not be equated with owners who have faced serious controversies in the past.