Podcast Summary: The Athletic NBA Daily

Episode: Suns Rising with Sam Amick + Trade Deadline Leftovers
Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Esfandiar (“Esp”) Baraheni, Sam Amick

Overview

This episode spotlights the Phoenix Suns’ surprising 2025-2026 turnaround under owner Matt Ishbia, as analyzed by The Athletic’s Sam Amick. The hosts break down Ishbia's cultural overhaul, unconventional management hires, and player moves. The conversation widens to address NBA tanking trends, challenges posed by a loaded draft class, and notable trade deadline stories—plus some personal anecdotes from NBA All-Star Weekend.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Phoenix Suns: Organizational Turnaround

[02:07–14:01]

• Owner Matt Ishbia’s New Approach
  • After two turbulent, criticized years (failed blockbuster trades, lawsuits, and financial woes), Ishbia changed course by “leaning into” his instincts and basketball background, embracing involvement instead of retreating.
  • “After Matt’s first couple years of ownership... the narrative all the way through... was that Matt was too involved. Well, then he comes out in the off season with a statement that says, you know, guess what? I wasn’t involved enough. And that I thought was fascinating from a human standpoint.” —Sam Amick [03:06]
• Michigan State Pipeline
  • Ishbia, himself a former Michigan State walk-on, filled key positions with Spartan alumni and connections.
    • Brian Gregory (former Spartans assistant) became GM.
    • Jordan Ott (also with Michigan State ties) hired as head coach.
    • Charlie Bell (Spartan alum) joins the staff.
• Key Player Moves
  • Dillon Brooks, acquired through targeted trading, praised for two-way impact.
  • Jordan Ott lauded as a grinder who connects with the roster.
  • “If you had a list of the impact players... it’s Jordan Ott and it’s Dillon Brooks.” —Sam Amick [05:15]
  • Suns have already beaten Vegas preseason win projections (31 wins), despite dramatic preseason expectations and turmoil.
• Culture Redefined
  • Post-Durant/Beal era focused on synergy, shared vision, and authentic fan engagement (e.g., $2 menu, autograph encouragement, free local TV).
  • Improved internal trust: “Relationship dynamics appear to be a lot better if you look backwards at where they were.” —Sam Amick [08:45]
  • Ishbia’s legitimate basketball background sets him apart from “typical” owners—he and his execs approach decisions with real game knowledge.
• Contrast with Past Ownership
  • Respect for past Suns leadership (James Jones, Sarver fallout), but Ishbia fully transitioned to “my guys, my way” only in this latest iteration.

2. Tanking: Problems & Perspectives

[16:18–21:58]

• Suns’ Decision Not to Tank
  • Chose to keep Devin Booker and strive for competitiveness, against the grain in a draft-hyped, tank-heavy NBA year.
  • “It is the easiest time it’s ever been... to tank. So credit to the Suns and Matt Ishbia for not going that route...” —Dave DuFour [16:18]
• Wider League Issues
  • Nearly a third of NBA teams essentially not trying to compete; tanking has become rampant.
  • “We’re basically talking about a third of the league now that is not, you know, active participants in the competition.” —Sam Amick [17:23]
  • Despite flattened lottery odds, teams still find tanking rewarding because this draft is so strong and picks 1–5 all have value.
  • Tanking frustrates fans and puts pressure on the NBA system; visible apathy toward games with non-competitive rosters.
• League Response & Systemic Challenges
  • Enforcement has failed; real change likely requires structural (legislative) fixes, not just discipline.
  • “The toothpaste is out of the tube... There’s like such a strength in numbers component to the tanking problem... it’s going to be whack a mole for Adam [Silver] trying to do it through discipline.” —Sam Amick [21:17]

3. Trade Deadline Leftovers & Player Movement

[21:58–31:19]

• Shutdown Trends
  • Growing issue of star player shutdowns following trades (e.g., Trae Young): healthy but benched to secure draft position.
  • Power dynamics: Only elite-tier stars (e.g., Giannis) can truly resist shutdowns.
  • “It’s what sort of system can you create where you just shouldn’t have talented, good basketball players sitting for no reason?” —Sam Amick [24:21]
• Giannis Antetokounmpo & the Bucks
  • Milwaukee walked a tightrope, engaging in trade talks to read the market but ultimately retaining Giannis—hopes remain for an extension.
  • “This is still like Operation Save Giannis for the Bucks.” —Sam Amick [26:10]
• Summer Trade Watch
  • Rumored movement: Ja Morant (Grizzlies), Domantas Sabonis (potentially Raptors), Zion Williamson (Pelicans), and previously unexpected moves (De’Aaron Fox, Trae Young) cited as evidence that major change can happen quickly.
  • On Zion: “If he’s going to play and be good and they’re going to continue losing, then what are we doing here?” —Sam Amick [30:14]
  • Charlotte’s turnaround quelled trade buzz around LaMelo Ball.
• Pelicans as Trade Wild Card
  • Accumulation of valuable players but persistent losing record (Zion, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones) could set up summer shakeups.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the ownership pivot:
  “He decided to go ahead and lean into the stuff that he was being criticized for.” —Sam Amick [03:42]
• On Suns’ cultural rebuild:
  “When all else fails, let’s get back to culture. And that is kind of what happened with them.” —Sam Amick [06:26]
• Fan focus as policy:
  “Put them on free tv. That to me, it was one of the big first moves that he made...” —Dave DuFour [07:30]
• On tanking’s spread:
  “We’re basically talking about a third of the league now that is not... active participants in the competition.” —Sam Amick [17:23]
• On shutdowns and player agency:
  “You shouldn’t have talented, good basketball players sitting for no reason... to rig the ping pong ball[s].” —Sam Amick [24:21]
• On Pelicans’ paradox:
  “I just can’t remember a team that has so many players with good market and a terrible record.” —Sam Amick [30:14]
• Sam’s David Robinson autograph story:
  “[As a kid,] I walked over to the house phone at the hotel... ‘Hello, could you please transfer me to David Robinson’s room?’... 40 minutes later, there was David in the lobby signing my autograph.” —Sam Amick [32:37]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 02:07 — Suns’ turnaround under Ishbia: culture, hires, and personnel
• 06:00 — Breaking down what “culture” means in practice
• 07:30 — Practical fan-first initiatives
• 11:37 — Owner involvement (Ishbia vs. “non-basketball” owners)
• 16:18 — Suns’ anti-tank approach and why that stands out
• 17:23 — Tanking: scale and impact across the league
• 19:03 — Why tanking persists despite rule tweaks
• 21:09 — What can Adam Silver and the league do about tanking?
• 22:22 — Shutdowns/trade-acquired stars benched (“sausage gets made”)
• 24:43 — Giannis and the Bucks’ trade deadline strategy
• 27:53 — Bucks’ attempts to keep Giannis, likelihood of a summer move
• 28:30 — Under-the-radar trade possibilities: Sabonis, Zion, more
• 31:19 — All-Star Weekend flavor and business
• 32:37 — Personal David Robinson autograph anecdote

Tone & Style

The hosts mix in dry humor with candid, insightful discussion. Sam Amick’s reporting brings a thoughtful, human element—he offers both skepticism and empathy for ownership choices. The conversational back-and-forth keeps the episode approachable, with both big-picture analysis and on-the-ground reporting from the NBA’s biggest events.

Final Takeaway

This episode provides a sharp, inside look at the Suns’ rapid recovery from disaster, driven by an owner’s basketball roots and willingness to defy league norms (such as tanking). It also exposes the scale and complexity of the NBA’s tanking crisis and highlights just how quickly superstars and rosters can change in today’s league. The inclusion of personal stories and event color adds warmth to the in-depth basketball analysis.