Phoenix Suns face crossroads with identity amid instability

What was supposed to be an offseason of rebuilding has turned into controversy. After moving on from Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the team had hoped to turn the page on the Big Three era.

However, lawsuits have rocked the organization this summer.

One is against Suns owner Mat Ishbia, alleging he refused to allow two minority owners access to internal financial records. The second was filed by former security manager Gene Traylor, who alleges discrimination, harassment and unlawful retaliation.

The lawsuits have surrounded the team in controversy, with one part of Traylor’s testimony alleging an affair between the Suns’ CEO and a former Phoenix Mercury player. Both the organization and the former Mercury player have denied the claims following social media backlash.

The team’s offseason wasn’t defined solely by legal battles.

ESPN ranked the Suns among the teams most likely to “tumble” this season, placing them third alongside the Boston Celtics. Ishbia pushed back against the skepticism — a rare move for someone in his position.

“I’m not worried about what the so-called experts think,” he said in a repost, quoting Burn City Sports’ report on the rankings. “… We’re focused on making our fans proud by playing great as a team and building a brand of basketball that’s tough and gritty.”

Identity vs. Instability 

The Suns have always prided themselves as a resilient franchise and with their run to the NBA Finals in 2021, the goal was to build upon that standard. With ever-changing leadership dynamics and controversial news, what does the team stand for now?

For Ishbia, he doesn’t believe the Suns are unraveling, defending the team’s vision against ESPN analysts.

However, the timing of this with the start of the season around the corner puts the Suns in a peculiar position. Instead of focusing solely on the rebuild, the franchise has to also fight back against headlines that raise doubts about its direction.

The Suns aren’t the first team to be put in this position, but how they respond will define what type of culture the organization wants to have. Fans are beginning to worry about the franchise, as the Suns search for their identity amid ongoing instability.

One thing is clear: the franchise’s culture, which was once filled with pride, now finds itself at a crossroads.