Mat Ishbia & Kevin Durant are about to awaken the sleeping giant
The seismic event of the trade of Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns is not only going to give the Suns championship aspirations for the foreseeable future, but it is also going to serve as a blueprint for what our other professional sports owners need to, and can do. Off the court, all of the eyes of the NBA are going to be looking to Phoenix. All of the ESPN shows will be talking about Phoenix. All of the national podcasts will be talking about Phoenix as well. Everybody is going to want to come and play in Phoenix.
While Matt Ishbia and the Suns continue to be a top-three team in the Western Conference for years to come, the lowly Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Arizona Coyotes will struggle to even find relevance in the national spotlight. Those three franchises will be operating in the shadows of what is about to happen to the valley.
Everybody already wants to live in Phoenix, but why haven’t those other three franchises been able to make a splash? Sure the Cardinals had fun a year in 2021 with Kyler Murray and JJ Watt storming out to a near-perfect season, but that was only for it to come crumbling down. Everyone can remember the Archie Bradley triple heard round the world. But these franchises have remained in poverty for most of their existence in the valley. If it wasn’t for Jerry Colangelo sacrificing the future of the Dbacks team in 2001, we would never have a championship. And it was worth it.
Enter Ishbia. Making the same type of all-in move Jerry did with the 2001 Dbacks. The Suns will absolutely take over the valley by storm. You will not be able to walk a city block without seeing a Suns logo on a bumper sticker, car flag, jersey, signs and everything else you can imagine. All while the other three franchises sit back and scrape the bottom of the barrel for crumbs.
Expectations are higher in the Valley now
At some point, I can see fans beginning to turn on those franchises. You already see it with the Cardinals right now. They are going to say, “Just look at what the Suns are doing. If the Suns can do it, why can’t you?” Ultimately, applying pressure to the owners of those franchises is exactly what is needed. I would also include Arizona State into this as well. Though, I am very on Kenny Dillingham and his Activate the Valley mantra.
Jealousy is a very real thing in sports, and when you look across the valley and you see the whole world talking about the Phoenix Suns and not about you, what do you think is going to happen? I’m sure some of those guys with big egos are going to feel a little underwhelmed, maybe? But if Mat Ishbia and Kevin Durant can pull this off, then I believe this will be an absolute springboard to a brighter sports future in the valley.
A few months ago I wrote an article saying how the owners of these professional sports franchises in the valley, the Phoenix Suns included, needed to take real ownership. Well, it’s nice to finally see a real owner make the big move to push us over the top. No salary cap worries or excuses, just winning moves. And as Ishbia said in his conference, the money will follow.
So take note Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Coyotes, and Sun Devils. This is what you can be. If not, then step aside Ken Kendrick. Sell the team Michael Bidwill. Fire yourself Ray Anderson. Because we don’t have time for your games and mismanagement. Your ridiculous ways have not worked. And while you’re trying to figure out why it’s not working, everyone will be paying attention to the Phoenix Suns. And you will be lost in the shadows.
