Phoenix Suns governor Robert Sarver is facing dozens of allegations of racism and sexism, along with creating a toxic culture by more than 70 employees.
A few weeks after reports surfaced of a expose detailing decades of a toxic culture in Phoenix, with Sarver accused of using racist and sexist language, ESPN’s Baxter Holmes released the story Thursday.
According to ESPN, Sarver has created an extremely toxic workplace environment in all aspects of his business with the Suns. This includes racially insensitive language within their office in addition to inappropriate and misogynistic gestures as well as comments relating to his own wife.
Earl Watson’s account of Robert Sarver’s insensitivity
Here’s one example of Sarver’s insensitivity shared in the ESPN bombshell report from when Earl Watson was coaching the team in 2016.
“You know, why does Draymond Green get to run up the court and say [N-word],” Sarver, who is white, allegedly said, repeating the N-word several times in a row.
“You can’t say that,” Watson, who is Black and Hispanic, told Sarver.
“Why?” Sarver replied. “Draymond Green says [N-word].”
“You can’t f—ing say that,” Watson said again.
Detailed allegations against Suns’ governor
Overall, at least six Suns staffers told ESPN of specific scenarios where Sarver used the N-word. One former head coach even said these happenings were fairly common with Sarver.
There are even reports of Sarver making racist comments going back as far as when Amar’e Stoudemire signed with the Suns in 2004.
While the racist comments are ugly enough, Sarver doesn’t stop there.
In 2015, when the Suns were recruiting LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency, team officials knew the big man had young children in Texas and that being able to play nearby would work in Phoenix’s favor.
During the recruitment process, Sarver mentioned to two Suns’ staff members that they needed to get local strippers impregnated by NBA players, so they’d have children local to the Phoenix area, in an effort to potentially improve their odds in free agency.
Which, Sarver, again denied.
He also gave female employees the impression that they “had very little value”. In these cases, Sarver would repeatedly act as if women “belonged” to him, and that he “owned” them, with Sarver commonly asking Suns employees “Do I own you? Are you one of mine?”
Some employees went on to mention cases where Sarver would refer to players and staff as “inventory”
Suns, Robert Sarver respond to allegations
Of course, through his legal team, Sarver has denied using any such language.
“I’ve never called anyone or any group of people the N-word, or referred to anyone or any group of people by the N-word, either verbally or in writing. I don’t use that word. It is abhorrent and ugly and denigrating and against everything I believe in.”
Here is former player and current Suns’ GM James Jones’ one-sentence statement issued to ESPN.
“None of what’s been said describes the Robert Sarver I know, respect and like — it just doesn’t.”
Taking things further, Suns president and CEO, Jason Rowley, also backed up Sarver’s behavior.
“This story is completely outrageous and false. It doesn’t represent — at all — the Robert Sarver I’ve worked alongside of for 15 years. He’s not a racist and he’s not a sexist.”
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NBA spokesperson, Mike Bass also mentioned the league “has not received a complaint of misconduct at the Suns organization through any of our processes, including our confidential workplace misconduct hotline or other correspondence.”
While Sarver’s camp tried to quickly quell any bad connotations, one former Suns basketball executive had this to say:
“There’s literally nothing you could tell me about him from a misogynistic or race standpoint that would surprise me.”
Very interesting. Meanwhile, a business operations employee currently with the Suns organization feels NBA commissioner Adam Silver would be appalled if only he knew.
Robert Sarver has been in his position with the Suns for 17 years and counting. Now, the NBA may finally have some initial evidence to conduct a full and thorough investigation.