NBA Investigation Reveals Racist Remarks, Harsh Employee Treatment from Phoenix Suns Boss Robert Sarver

Another NBA team executive is in hot waters for racist remarks. The league suspended Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury managing partner Robert Sarver for a year following an investigation into the teams' workplace culture. The NBA also fined him $10 million.

An interim governor for the Suns will be announced, with Sarver working with the NBA to find his suitable replacement during the suspension, according to Bleacher Report.

Suns Employees Experienced a Toxic Workplace Environment Under Robert Sarver

According to the NBA's official statement, the league's investigations found that Sarver engaged in several unscrupulous acts. These include inequitable conduct toward female employees, sex-related workplace comments, inappropriate comments about the physical appearance of female employees and other women, and inappropriate physical conduct toward male employees.

The Suns and Mercury executive also treated his employees harshly and in demeaning ways, often yelling and cursing at them. This includes instances of him using racially insensitive language.

ESPN launched an investigation into Sarver, with Suns employees telling them that has used racially insensitive language repeatedly in the office. Employees also stated that they felt his conduct was inappropriate and misogynistic. Incidents include Sarver passing around photos of his wife in a bikini to employees and bragging about her performing oral sex on him.

Employees also told ESPN that the longtime Suns owner made employees feel like they were his property, even asking one female employee whether he "owned" her to determine whether or not she worked for the Suns. Former head coach Earl Watson also talked about his former employer, stating that Sarver previously complained that Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green could say the N-Word without any repercussion, with Sarver using the full word for the racial slur. He also used the N-word several times, though Sarver disputed both allegations, saying that Watson was not a credible source.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that while Sarver fully cooperated with the investigation, he was "unaccepting" of the $10 million fine levied upon him, thinking he does not deserve such a fine.

Phoenix Suns and Robert Sarver Release Statements Regarding His Suspension

Following the suspension announcement of its governor, Suns Legacy LLC, which manages and runs both the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury, released a statement via Twitter.

It stated that the two teams are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace environment free of discrimination and harassment. The organization also added that the NBA has acknowledged that they have fully cooperated with the investigations, and found the league's findings to be concerning. The statement also mentioned that Sarver has taken responsibility for his actions.

The organization added that his conduct do not reflect on both teams' values and is inconsistent with the advancements the management has taken.

Sarver's representatives also released a statement, saying that while he disagrees with some of the particulars of the findings, he apologizes to his employees and is sorry for causing them pain. He also accepts the consequences levied upon him by the NBA.

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Written by: Rick Martin

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