Mat Ishbia's Spokesperson Denies Report of Isiah Thomas Taking Suns Front Office Role

According to Duane Rankin of The Republic, a spokesman for the Phoenix Suns denies that basketball Hall of Suns' Isiah Thomas will not be joining the Suns front office.

On Tuesday, the NBA board of governors approved the sale of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury to Mat Ishbia. 

Ishbia was approved as the new governor of the Suns by a 29-0 vote, according to ESPN's Baxter Holmes, with the Cleveland Cavaliers abstaining from voting.

"This is the culmination of a lifelong dream. I love the game of basketball deeply but it's so much more than that for me." Ishbia said in a statement issued by the Suns on Tuesday. 

"Throughout my life, basketball has given me a second family, an education, and so much joy. I am honored to be the next steward of this community's franchises in the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury and am totally committed to building an incredible organization on and off the floor."

Later in the day, Bally Sports' Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson reported NBA Hall of Fame point guard Isiah Thomas was a candidate to become the next team president:

NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas is a candidate to become the next team President of the Phoenix Suns sources tell @BallySports. pic.twitter.com/6B50kCf1VZ

— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) February 8, 2023

That report followed up a tweet from NBA insider Marc Stein:

"My podcast partner Chris B Haynes just reported on TNT that new Suns owner Mat Ishbia is hiring Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas to "have a prominent role" in the Suns' front office with general manager James Jones. 

My podcast partner @ChrisBHaynes just reported on TNT that new Suns owner Mat Ishbia is hiring Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas to "have a prominent role" in the Suns' front office in collaboration with James Jones.

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 8, 2023

However, The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin soon reported after that a spokesperson for Ishbia claimed that although the two are merely friends and Thomas would not have any role with Phoenix's front office:

A spokesperson for new #Suns team owner Mat Ishbia told The Republic Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas won't have a position in the team's front office and isn't part of the team transition.

Ishbia and Thomas are friends.

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 8, 2023

The Suns improved their record to 30-26 with a 116-112 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. They travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks on Thursday. 

Ishbia is slated to speak with reporters this morning at his introductory press conference at the Footprint Center.