Suns owner Mat Ishbia on feud with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert: ‘He doesn’t like me and I don’t like him’

When Mat Ishbia was confirmed as the new owner of the Phoenix Suns earlier this year, it was 29 votes to 0, with one abstention. The person who chose not to vote was Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who has been involved in a long-standing feud with Ishbia over their business interests in the mortgage industry.

In a appearance on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” on Wednesday, Ishbia reiterated the mutual distaste between him and Gilbert, revealing that they haven’t shaken hands.

“So listen. I can talk about it for hours and I can talk for a minute; the minute is probably easier. He doesn’t like me and I don’t like him, that’s it. being number one in mortgage, UWM, my company, is number one one in mortgage I don’t like the way they do business in a lot of things he probably doesn’t like the way we do things We’re in the same city we compete we win That’s what it is now.

“The reality is if you asked me what I thought about that. I knew without a doubt that’s probably how he would have handled it. The best thing is that now you can see who I see. Very simple. See who I see and what I know about that man.”

Ishbia was then asked if the bad relationship would affect potential trades between the Suns and Cavaliers while he and Gilbert are in charge.

“I won’t be in the market, but I wish him nothing but the best. I have no animosity, but the reality is, don’t think we’re not competing. Health-wise, I wish him nothing but the best” The reality is, in the mortgage industry and now on the basketball floor, whatever it is. I try to win in everything I do. If someone does things the wrong way, which he has done, I will pronounce them “on it. That is what I have done”

Ishbia, a former walk-on at Michigan State, bought the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury from Robert Sarver for a record $4 billion. Sarver, who owned the Suns since 2004, decided to sell after a league investigation confirmed allegations of racism, misogyny and a toxic work culture, and he was fined $10 million and suspended for one year.

Shortly after Ishbia was confirmed as the new owner of the Suns in early February, Ishbia pushed the front office to finalize the blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant. The Suns gave up Cameron Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and four unprotected first-round picks.

That all-in deal made the Suns one of the title favorites this season, but their hopes are hanging by a thread as they trail the Denver Nuggets 2-0 in the second round and Chris Paul is injured.