Phoenix

The Ishbia Index

Methodology

Index mix

Youth 12. Ascent 10. Defense 10. Toughness 20. Accountability 20. City 8. Winner 20.

The pool is players on current rosters. Players with no Ascent or Accountability data get no Index and no rank. A scored player missing a pillar gets a set value: Defense 50, Toughness 50, Accountability 40, City 65, Winner 45, Ascent 69.9. Each pillar is then scaled so the top player in the pool scores 100. That player may be unranked, so a board's top-ranked score can be below 100.

Youth is a percentile by birth year. Players born in the same year share a score and rank.

“I promise you we will win championships, with an S at the end.”

“We have a young, ascending team. Where in years past we had players that were maybe on the decline, we have players that are getting better.”

“He’s the kind of guy we want here. Defensive minded, tough, sticks up for his teammates.”

Youth

Younger is better. Ranked 0-100.

Ascent

Good going to great. Mix BPM 35, points 20, age runway 30, year-over-year BPM 15. A 70 requires 16 points and +1.5 BPM, or +4.0 BPM on 14 points, or age 21-under with 18 points and a plus BPM. Age 33 or older cannot clear 70.

Toughness

Hard to play against. Fight first. Weights: fight 38, take a hit 24, loose 22, glass 8, box 8.

Defense

Can guard. D-EPM percentile in the 500-minute 2025-26 pool. Dunks & Threes.

Accountability

Can be counted on. Games 25, minutes 25, fouls per 36 20, turnover rate 15, assist-to-turnover 15.

Winner

Drives wins, not just a plus-minus line on eight points. BPM still leads, but the weight on BPM rises with scoring load so a backup center with a fat BPM cannot outrank a closer. Empty-calorie scoring (high points, negative BPM) is cut. Under 10 points the score caps at 62. Under 6 it caps at 50. Twenty points and a plus BPM gets a closer bump. Age does not cap this pillar. Under 500 minutes fill 45.

City

Starts at 65. From Arizona +20. College in Arizona +12. Came to the Suns +8. Chose to stay +10. Three-season cap 15. Love quote +20. Grudge -30. Hate -40. Cap 100.