Typically, when a franchise reaches the NBA Finals after dominating throughout a regular-season campaign, the expectation is that only minor adjustments are needed to help them achieve their ultimate goal. Yet, for the Phoenix Suns, who reached the championship round in 2021, their trajectory has been tragically defined by a steady decline from that point on. And now, according to Kendrick Perkins, the Suns are nothing more than the ‘biggest embarrassment’ in the NBA in recent years, with owner Mat Ishbia bearing responsibility for derailing the team’s progress through misguided experiments repeatedly.
Kendrick Perkins doesn’t appreciate the state of the Phoenix Suns
After their ‘Cinderella’ run in 2020-21, the Suns lost in a tough seven-game series in the second round against the Dallas Mavericks. The following year, they did reach the second round but managed merely two wins before getting eliminated at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. Then, in 2024, they were clean-swept in the opening round by the young Minnesota Timberwolves, and by 2025, they failed to qualify for the postseason altogether.
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Moreover, this period of decline coincided with the dismantling of the team’s foundation. Quality role players like Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Chris Paul, DeAndre Ayton and even head coach Monty Williams were all moved. In their place, Ishbia did not acquire upgrades; rather, he forced his way to assembling a Big 3 of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal alongside Devin Booker.
While this move gathered buzz and generated headlines, it degraded the organization’s balance and chemistry. As a result, instead of the Suns becoming perennial championship contenders, they became a team that constantly threw their head coaches under the bus for their failure. What’s worse was that repeated fiascos within the roster took place and the presence of too many ball-dominant players forced young D-Book to alter his playing style.
Unsurprisingly, Perkins’ latest criticism centered on how Ishbia abandoned the team’s identity. With a young and disciplined core, Phoenix was destined to build a dynasty, but Ishbia’s experiments destroyed everything this franchise had worked tirelessly to build for numerous years.
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“One could argue, or one could say that the Phoenix Suns have been the biggest embarrassment in the NBA over the last three to four years,” Perkins said on the ‘Road Trippin’ podcast.’ “Where they were, what four or five years ago. NBA Finals, culture, Monty Williams, CP3, just got dominated by Giannis. To all of a sudden, you trade your number one pick in DeAndre Ayton, who you took in that draft…. You give up a Cam Johnson, you give up a Mikal Bridges. Where is KD at now?… You acquire Bradley Beal, who is making a whole lot of f—ng money with no trade clause. You run through two championship coaches, two.”
The Suns need to prove their merit
As the Western Conference grows increasingly competitive, the Suns now find themselves in a precarious position. There is no denying that the upcoming 2025-26 season represents a crucial test. Should the team manage to recalibrate, embrace resilience and surprise the NBA world, redemption remains possible.
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However, another disappointing campaign could cement their status as a fallen powerhouse stripped of both identity and influence. Thus, it seems safe to state that Perkins’ assessment, though harsh, captures the reality: Ishbia’s grand plan not only failed but directly contributed to the Suns’ decline, especially when considering how the role players that were tarded are all improving their team’s championship aspirations heading into the next season.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.