This is the part where they sully your name. Every grievance is voiced, every argument is analyzed, and every relationship of convenience crumbles. Robert Sarver, the owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, has no defense against the public outcry for his removal from office. His workplace conduct came under scrutiny last year. Now his 18 years in sports ownership will end as Sarver is seeking to sell his stake. How did he get to this point? And is this punishment?
Robert Sarver and the NBA
Robert Sarver was born in Tucson and went to school in Arizona. Sarver made much of his money in banking and real estate. In 2004, former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo afforded him the opportunity of a lifetime. He became the proud owner of the only NBA and WNBA teams in his home state of Arizona. The Suns have been competitive in his tenure, reaching the Finals in 2021. The Phoenix Mercury, led by future Hall-of-Famers Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner (who is wrongfully detained in Russia as of earlier this year), won three titles in franchise history.
Yet all is not well behind closed doors. In November 2021, ESPN helped open the door with an explosive investigation into the breadth of Sarver’s tenure, which included horrid allegations of racism, bigotry, misogyny, and sexual harassment.
The original investigation into the tenure of Robert Sarver https://t.co/6I00IRLDb7
— Belly Up Sports Writer (NBA) (@thaherojoe) September 22, 2022
Accusations of Workplace Misconduct
Some of the allegations (paraphrased below) include the following:
- Sarver said the n-word on several occasions in front of coaches and other staffers
- Sarver told some operations staffers that local strippers needed recruitment to get impregnated by players, so the players feel more rooted in Arizona with family.
- Sarver pulled an executive’s pants down in front of 60 other employees.
These allegations are grave, especially considering the NBA’s track record for diversity, equity, and inclusion. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver indicated that there are more egregious allegations that have not been disclosed to the public and will remain undisclosed as part of Sarver’s agreement to accept punishment.
Calls for His Dismissal
After a thorough investigation that recently concluded, the NBA punished Sarver to the tune of a $10 million fine and a one-year suspension from the NBA. However, many current players felt this punishment did not go far enough.
Current LA Laker and future Hall-of-Famer LeBron James chimed in with his thoughts.
behavior. I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership. But this isn’t right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place. Don’t matter if you own the team or play for the team. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this aint it.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 14, 2022
Likewise, four-time NBA champion and former Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green, weighed in during an episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”
Green emphatically feels this punishment flies in the face of what the NBA stands for.
The Chris Paul Effect
Having twelve-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul on your team is the perfect time for ownership to change hands.
Chris Paul was drafted in 2005 by the then New Orleans Hornets. Less than five years later, controversies during former owner George Shinn’s tenure saw the team sold to the NBA. Paul was nearly traded to the LA Lakers before being sent across the aisle to the LA Clippers.
Chris Paul was part of the LA Clippers franchise when disgraced former owner Donald Sterling was caught on tape making racist remarks. He soon sold his stake in the team.
A week into trading for Chris Paul, former Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander put the Houston Rockets up for sale.
Chris Paul was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a year. No ownership change there but also no love lost between owner Clay Bennett and fans of the former Seattle Supersonics, whose team relocated to OKC a decade prior.
Chris Paul is now in the twilight of his career as the starting point guard for the Phoenix Suns. As for how Paul feels about the NBA corroborating many of the allegations against Sarver:
Chris Paul’s thoughts on Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver. https://t.co/T3wrKL3HLi
— Belly Up Sports Writer (NBA) (@thaherojoe) September 22, 2022
The End of the Sarver Era
The sun is setting on Robert Sarver and his Phoenix Suns ownership. Some would argue that in this cancel culture, it isn’t fair that he does not get to defend himself forcefully against public opinion. It isn’t fair that he is not allowed to grow and learn from his past transgressions. To be fair, no one is stopping him from doing any of these things. He just does not get to carry the prestige of the NBA platform while he is doing that learning. He also stands to make a massive windfall on his initial 401 million dollar investment as valuations have skyrocketed in recent years. That kind of profit does not strike me as much of a punishment.
The league carries on. The New Orleans Pelicans hope to build from last season’s playoff experience with a nonfat Zion Williamson in tow. The Philadelphia 76ers hope they have a rebound season as they seek to capitalize on the Joel Embiid and James Harden partnership. A monster trade of All-Star Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers proves yet again that the NBA Western Conference is the junior varsity side of the league. The defending champion Golden State Warriors seek history again as they attempt to reach the NBA Finals for the seventh time in nine seasons. The Lakers are the Lakers. NBA training camps start next week. Can’t wait!
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