Updated Feb. 14, 2026, 11:44 a.m. MT
INGLEWOOD, CA – Phoenix Suns team owner Mat Ishbia pitted himself in the middle of the action in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday, Feb. 13 at Kia Forum.
From feverishly challenging 7-6 Tacko Fall for a rebound to looking like Dillon Brooks in denying ESPN’s Shams Charania the inbounds pass with forearms and physicality, the competitive Ishbia was battling the opposition and powering through fatigue all night.
“I don’t know what else to do besides that inside these lines,” the 46-year-old Ishbia said about being competitive. “Outside the lines, I can do whatever, but inside the lines, I’m going to play hard. That’s all I know.”
Ishbia can also splash the rainbow jumper like he did over the much taller Fall.
“I don’t care how big he is, I can still battle,” a smiling 5-10 Ishbia said. “I battled. Hit the shot over him, but he’s a heck of a player. He’s a monster, he’s big.”
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen loved all of it as he and Ishbia were Team Anthony mates coached by actor Anthony Anderson.
“Mat, my guy man,” Allen said. “A lot of love for Mat man. Running around, doing all the dirty work. Getting dirty and we that on the team.”
The back-and-forth between Fall and the much shorter Ishbia drew crowd reactions throughout the game.
Fall said he took it easy on Ishbia – and for good reason.
“I told him I didn’t do anything against him because I want him to sign me,” a smiling Fall said.
Team Giannis, coached by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, rallied to win, 65-58, with Fall dunking at will and Rome Flynn earning his second consecutive Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP with 17 points.
The competitive Ishbia still managed to leave the arena all smiles to complete a day that began walking the red carpet with celebrities, entertainers, athletes and influencers.
“I had a great time,” said the former Michigan State walk-on who was on the 2000 national championship team under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo. “Had a great time competing with some good guys, having some fun. Playing hard and competing.”
The 2027 NBA All-Star weekend is in Phoenix.
Ishbia took to the court early for pregame work Friday wearing black Book 2 Fragment sneakers as Suns five-time All-Star Devin Booker promised.
“I’m pretty sure he has a trainer,” Booker said Feb. 10 about Ishbia. “He obviously has a court at his house. So I think he’s going to be well prepared. I just have to make sure he’s in some Books.”
Just to make sure, Ishbia took shooting tips before the game from world renowned Lethal Shooter, who was one of Team Anthony’s assistant coaches.
“I just met him (Thursday, Feb. 12),” Ishbia said pregame. “He’s a great shooter. Great shooting coach. So I just said, ‘Show me what I can do better.’ Gave me a couple of tips and hopefully it works.”
Lethal Shooter spent at least 10 minutes with Ishbia before the game stressing the importance of footwork with his shot.
“If you want to be an elite shooter, it starts with your feet,” Lethal Shooter said pregame on the court.
“It doesn’t start with your hands. It doesn’t start with your head. Once your feet are right, that’s when you can figure out the hands. That’s when you can start the mental. I was just teaching him the proper footwork. Stepping into the shot. Coming off a curl. When you’re going off the dribble. So it was awesome so he can understand what it takes to be an elite shooter.”
Ishbia starred at Seaholm High in Birmingham, Michigan, before joining the Spartans as a walk-on.
He’d knocked down his share of shots before Friday night.
Lethal Shooter made sure to recognize that.
“He can already shoot now,” he said. “I’m not taking credit for the shot. It’s just the footwork we were getting sharp.”
Ishbia didn’t start the game, but he came off the bench flying around all over the place. He initially matched up against Charlotte Hornets owner Rick Schnall.
He drove on Schnall. Drew a foul. Split two free throws. It was on and popping from there.
With Suns general manager Brian Gregory, CEO Josh Bartelstein and head coach Jordan Ott sitting courtside in support, Ishbia dove for loose balls, hit the deck a few times and even dropped a behind-the-back pass in transition to Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse.
The seven-time Olympic medalists with two golds missed the layup.
Ishbia also had a verbal exchange Antetokounmpo during the game. The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star forward got the win and the last word, too.
“He got all the calls, man,” Antetokounmpo said as he walked past Ishbia, who was doing an interview. “He got all the calls. Come on man. The game is rigged.”
Ishbia had a response.
“I needed a couple of them,” he said. “I needed a couple of them.”
Ishbia said before the game he hadn’t played in a real game in “20-plus” years.
The Suns team owner more than made up for lost time Friday night.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin..
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date: 2026-02-14 19:10:00
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