After an NBA investigation into charges of racism and sexism, Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver was banned for a year and fined $10 million.
Sarver was deemed to have “engaged in behaviour that obviously breached basic workplace norms” by the NBA.
There was evidence of “racially insensitive language, unfair treatment of female employees, and sex-related words and behaviour,” according to the report.
Sarver’s behaviour toward staff was also “on occasion bullying.”
An ESPN report in November 2021 started the inquiry, which included interviews with 320 persons and a review of 80,000 documents and recordings.
Despite the fact that the NBA fined Sarver the maximum sum allowed per its regulations, the investigation noted that “there is no finding that Sarver’s behaviour was motivated by racial or gender-based animus.”
Sarver’s sentence is less severe than that given on Donald Sterling, the then-owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, who was barred from the NBA for life in 2014 after being caught on tape using racist words in a private chat. The league later forced the team’s sale to new owners.
Sarver, who also owns the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, issued the following statement in response to his punishment and suspension: “Accountability is required for effective leadership.
“That starts with me for the Suns and Mercury organisations.
He added “While I disagree with some of the particulars of the NBA’s report, I would like to apologize for my words and actions that offended our employees. I take full responsibility for what I have done. I am sorry for causing this pain, and these errors in judgment are not consistent with my personal philosophy or my values.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called the allegations “troubling and disappointing”
“I apologise on behalf of the entire NBA to everyone who has been affected by the misbehaviour detailed in the investigators’ findings. We must do better “he stated.
Sarver has owned the Suns for 18 years. During his ban, he will be unable to visit any NBA or WNBA team facility or arena, nor will he be permitted to conduct any business with the teams.
