Suns GM Highlights Closeness with Mat Ishbia as Key Asset for Team Rebuild

PHOENIX -- With almost two decades of experience as an NCAA Division I head coach, Brian Gregory’s basketball résumé holds significant weight due to his extensive tenure. Dayton , Georgia Tech and South Florida .

That's not why he's the new general manager of the Phoenix Suns .

Rather than anything else, it’s Gregory's 25-year connection with Suns owner Mat Ishbia that stands out as the key factor driving him towards this unusual shift from coaching college teams to joining an NBA front office. While some might view this association negatively, Gregory feels confident that his strong bond with Ishbia will prove beneficial as the Suns undertake a challenging reconstruction process after experiencing one of their most disheartening seasons ever.

Never will I avoid acknowledging that one of the key factors behind me being in this position is my connection with Mat Ishbia," Gregory stated on Tuesday. "However, our bond is built upon shared principles and a common work ethic. We have faced numerous challenges side by side.

She believes in me and I believe in her.

The 58-year-old Gregory was promoted to the position of general manager Last week, with the Suns, ex-GM James Jones transitioned to a senior advisory position. Oronde Taliaferro has been elevated to assistant general manager, and Paul Rivers will assume additional duties in basketball operations alongside his role as chief innovation officer.

Gregory was an assistant coach at Michigan State From 1999 to 2003, during the same period that Ishbia was an unrecruited player playing as a guard for the Spartans.

Michigan State enjoyed plenty of success during those years, including a national championship in 2000. Now the Ishbia-Gregory pairing will try to recreate that magic for a franchise that has never won a title in its 57-year history despite making the Finals in 1976, 1993 and 2021.

The Suns finished last season with a disappointing 36-46 record despite the league's most expensive roster that included the All-Star trio of Kevin Durant , Devin Booker and Bradley Beal . Booker -- a four-time All-Star and franchise icon who has spent all of his 10 seasons in the desert -- is the only player who seems certain to return.

Gregory's first task this offseason will be hiring a new head coach to replace Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after just one season It will mark the Suns' fourth different head coach in as many years.

Following that, you'll need to concentrate on a costly yet imperfect lineup. Ishbia said last month he wants future Suns teams to feature "some grit, some determination, some work ethic, some grind, some joy. We just haven't had that."

Gregory's most valuable trade chip this summer appears to be Durant, who was still one of the NBA's elite scorers last season at 36. The 15-time All-Star averaged 26.6 points on 53% shooting, shows few signs of slowing and will certainly have multiple suitors during the offseason.

Beal -- a three-time All-Star -- could be much more difficult to unload. The oft-injured guard is due more than $50 million next season, but his production hasn't come close to matching the price tag.

Gregory said he likes both players, but wasn't ready to comment on their future in the desert.

"I have a very good relationship with both those guys," Gregory said. "Kevin gave me a nice hug in the weight room the other night when the news came across Twitter. Had a great dinner with Brad Beal last Thursday and we talked a little about summer plans and different things like that.

"My main focus, to be honest with you, is finding the right head coach for those guys."

In 2023, Gregory became part of the Suns organization and took on multiple positions, with his latest role being the vice president of player development. His insights were crucial when the Suns made their selections. Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro In last year's draft, both players exhibited promising moments throughout their freshman campaigns.

Dunn and Ighodaro embodied on-court characteristics that align more closely with Ishbia's tough standards. The pair brought a vibrant energy and spirited playfulness that was noticeably absent among many other players on the team.