Suns Owner Announces $2 Million Move for NBA All-Star Weekend

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Mohammad Asif Ansari | Last updated Feb 26, 2026 1:11 AM ET

NBA's All-Star weekend is headed to Phoenix in 2027. And Suns owner Mat Ishbia is already making moves to rewrite the narrative around it. For years, the NBA has been criticized for failing to generate interest around the signature event. But Ishbia already has grand plans to restore the event and make Phoenix’s All-Star Saturday special for fans.

During a Wednesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Ishbia publicly proposed a massive financial boost for the 2027 festivities, committing $2 million to attract star players and ensure the weekend is nothing short of awesome. Ishbia did this despite the skeptics who have long doubted if money alone can lure the league’s elite back to the slam dunk contest and three-point stages.

According to Ishbia's proposal, the winner of the Slam Dunk or 3-Point Shootout would walk away with a $1 million cash prize, matched by another $1 million donation to a charity of their choice. It is a move designed to address the ongoing issue of superstars skipping Saturday night, a tradition of competition that Ishbia believes is essential to fans.

"You're going to put a million dollars up for the winner and then a million-dollar donation to a charity of their choice for the slam dunk winner,” McAfee said.

“Let's get the best guys in it, let's make it awesome,” Ishbia said.

Suns owner @Mishbia15 announces on @PatMcAfeeShow that he's committing big $ for 2027 NBA All-Star Saturday Night in PHX.

$1M to the winner (plus $1M to player's charity) for the Slam Dunk and 3-point contest winners.

"Let's get the best guys in it. Let's make it awesome."
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) February 25, 2026

Although a bold strategist, Ishbia has nonetheless set the stage for a potential negotiation clash with the league office. He did not consult the NBA or the Players Association prior to making his million-dollar offer, a move that league officials indicate conflicts with the existing collective bargaining agreement and established bonus structures, per reports.

Ishbia hasn’t formally submitted a bid to make his idea a reality. But his open declaration has made it clear that he intends to bring in more star power.

Mat Ishbia Criticized Teams That Choose To Lose Games

But more than Ishbia just throwing money at a Saturday night spectacle, he doesn’t like the "loser mentality" that he sees creeping into the league’s core, he said.

"And so I think purposely losing in anything is the loser mentality I can't stand for it, I don't agree with it, and I think the other organizations realize it, but right now the problem is the incentives are misaligned, if you purposely lose, you get better players."

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Meanwhile, he acknowledged that the landscape of team building has evolved; with free agency moving more slowly these days, organizations must now master the delicate balance of the draft and internal player development to remain competitive.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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