Suns owner Mat Ishbia scores notable victory over hated rival Dan Gilbert

Feb 8, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia speaks to the media at an introductory press conference at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mat Ishbia has officially won The Great NBA Mortgage Company War.

The NBA announced on Thursday a new multi-year partnership with United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM). Mortgage Matchup, UWM’s consumer-facing brand, will become the official mortgage partner of both the NBA and the WNBA. This marks the first-ever mortgage partnership for both leagues.

UWM is the mortgage company run by the Phoenix Suns owner Ishbia. They are major rivals of Rocket Mortgage, the mortgage company founded by Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.

Ishbia and Gilbert also have an intense one-on-one rivalry. The two men both attended Michigan State and have had some bitter clashes on both business and personal levels over the years (read more on their beef here). Ishbia recently even made some comments publicly ripping Gilbert.

Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic noted that UWM’s new partnership with the NBA means that UWM ads could run during nationally-televised Cavaliers games next season.

This, of course, means that we could see UWM ads during nationally broadcast Cavaliers games next season. The Cavs are owned by Dan Gilbert, who has his own mortgage company and he is a longtime rival of Ishbia. https://t.co/qeJC7n1iMt

— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) May 16, 2024

While it is unclear if Gilbert and Rocket Mortgage were at all involved in the race to become the NBA’s official mortgage partner, Gilbert certainly cannot be thrilled that the title ultimately went to his hated rival Ishbia and UWM.