Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia and his brother, Justin, are reportedly interested in making a run at buying another pro franchise.
The Athletic reported on Friday that Justin Ishbia was driving interest to purchase the Minnesota Twins, who’ve been owned and operated by the Pohlad Family since 1984.
Twins front office moves were made at the end of the season on the watch of controlling owner Jim Pohlad and club executive chair Joe Pohlad. The Pohlad family has owned the franchise since 1984 and began exploring a sale this year.
One of those moves was to install Derek Falvey, currently president of baseball operations, as team president next month.
The Athletic reported the Ishbias met with “local leaders” but it is not known if team officials are part of the talks at this stage.
Falvey said during the MLB Winter Meetings this week that the sale process was in “Phase One,” and would likely take several months.
Justin Ishbia is part of the ownership group of the Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and has a worth of $5.4 billion. He holds the title of alternative governor with the basketball franchises.
The 47-year-old is a managing partner of Shore Capital Partners and founded the equity firm in Chicago. Mat Ishbia owns United Wholesale Mortgage, which lists Justin Ishbia as a 22 percent owner.
Mat Ishbia purchased the Suns and Mercury from Robert Sarver for $4 billion, a transaction approved by the NBA Board of Governors in 2023.
Justin Ishbia is the second-largest stakeholder in the Suns and Mercury. He’s is also a member of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust and Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry Board.
–Field Level Media
