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Ishbia backs NBA expansion

Sports · Heat 1.0 / 10 · 1 show · 11m airtime

In an interview aired October 21, 2026, Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia said he supports NBA expansion, naming Las Vegas, Seattle and Mexico City, and backed NBA Europe, which deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said is coming in October 2027. He framed both as long-term growth plays even though new teams dilute each owner's roughly 3% stake in a league he said had $14 billion in revenue, and noted expansion requires 23 owner votes. In the same interview he said Kevin Durant responded to an aggregated clip without watching the full video and that he replied publicly, and said the goal is to win a championship with Devin Booker, who has four years left on his contract.

How 1 podcast covered it

  1. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, 2026-10-21 (29:41 to 34:01)
    Reports Ishbia's pro-expansion stance and cities
    Windhorst asks Ishbia about league-level growth: the Suns owner calls himself pro expansion, names Las Vegas, Seattle and Mexico City, and endorses NBA Europe after Mark Tatum's October 2027 timeline. He waves off the dilution math, saying money follows success.
    New angle: Ishbia is pro expansion, names Las Vegas, Seattle and Mexico City, and backs NBA Europe.
  2. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, 2026-10-21 (37:28 to 39:45)
    Reports Ishbia's public exchange with Durant
    Turns to Ishbia's public back-and-forth with Kevin Durant over an aggregated clip of his team-building comments. Ishbia says Durant likely did not watch the full video, that he stands by what he said, and that he respects Durant for speaking his mind.
    New angle: Ishbia says Durant responded to an aggregated clip without watching the full video, and that he replied publicly.
  3. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, 2026-10-21 (39:45 to 44:02)
    Adds Ishbia's championship goal with Booker
    Continues the Ishbia interview past expansion into the roster: he says the goal is a championship with Devin Booker, who has four years left, and that there is no tanking now. Adds an owner's on-record target and a 45-wins-equals-50 framing.
    New angle: Ishbia says the goal is to win a championship with Devin Booker, who has four years left on his contract.
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