Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver's punishment bashed by NBA community: 'Should be ashamed'
On Tuesday, the NBA announced that Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver was being suspended for a year and fined $10 million dollars.
The league released a statement, saying that an investigation into Sarver found that he "engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standard, as reflected in team and League rules and policies. This conduct included the use of racially insensitive language; unequal treatment of female employees; sex-related statements and conduct; and harsh treatment of employees that on occasion constituted bullying."
More: 'Traumatized all over again': Former Suns' employee calls out NBA over status of Sarver probe
VOTE: Is #Suns owner Robert Sarver's punishment from the #NBA too light, too harsh or just about right? (Punishment: https://t.co/Td2jvn2oZA | Reaction: https://t.co/0WnnTmWIlu) @azcentral
— azcentral sports (@azcsports) September 13, 2022
The NBA today issued the following statement: pic.twitter.com/jjlBK771PT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) September 13, 2022
The statement by the NBA, and the punishment for Sarver, did not go over well with many slamming what they felt was a light punishment for the Suns owner.
They sounded off on social media.
So Robert Sarver used the N-Word several times, sexually harassed female employees with inappropriate comments and treated employees like trash and the NBA didn’t get him out of here? https://t.co/ML9XVDDhEX
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) September 13, 2022
robert sarver shouldn’t be allowed to profit off of or be a part of an NBA franchise ever again
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) September 13, 2022
The NBA should be ashamed of the punishment it gave Robert Sarver. He shouldn’t be involved with the NBA and WNBA ever again
— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) September 13, 2022
This is a light punishment and Sarver should have been forced to sell the team. The NBA needs to get rid of owners like this, it is often difficult to prove but in this case they have proof of multiple incidents. https://t.co/nX4whENcdb
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) September 13, 2022
Sarver bought the Suns for $404 million in 2004.
Today, the Suns are valued at $1.8 billion.
A $10 million fine represents 0.6% of the team's valuation. It is the maximum fine the league is allowed to hand out. Here is what he's being punished for: https://t.co/l4IMcswbdA pic.twitter.com/rHyEYRcltK— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) September 13, 2022
Don’t understand how using a racial slur multiple times & uttering “many sex-related” comments isn’t enough for the NBA to force Sarver to sell.
A one year suspension is a joke. https://t.co/6B9LMV4tWq— Luis Torres (@LTOnDaTrack) September 13, 2022
I don’t understand if the NBA truly believes what Sarver did then why is he not forced to sell like Sterling was. Is the only difference really a recording ?
— D.O.C (@darwinchvz320) September 13, 2022
Robert Sarver is an embarrassment to the NBA and the city of Phoenix and should not own an NBA team.
— Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) September 13, 2022
Honestly, I’m not sure how Robert Sarver isn’t banned from the NBA. pic.twitter.com/05Ib0QuXUg
— Ben Rohrbach (@brohrbach) September 13, 2022
so the NBA suspended Robert Sarver for a year for using actual racial slurs but took Donald Sterling’s franchise away when a private conversation was recorded?
Idkkkkk about this https://t.co/09jjhjHhpR— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) September 13, 2022
A suspension and 10 mil fine for Sarver and it doesn’t feel close to enough https://t.co/NU93dcxabJ
— Lance Hartzler (@lance_hartz) September 13, 2022
Sarver gone! Sell the team! https://t.co/StISbqkLw8
— JT The Brick (@JTTheBrick) September 13, 2022
Robert Sarver is everything you don’t want in an owner. This was a golden opportunity for the NBA to rid themselves of this cancer for good.
Adam Silver is a coward.— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) September 13, 2022
Given the statement as to what Sarver has done he has absolutely no place in this league, just absolute disgrace he only got hit with a suspension
— B-L-M, Anthony is a bully (@advancedstats23) September 13, 2022
I’m just embarrassed to be a @Suns and @NBA fan. This is so beyond not good enough. What a message sent by the nba with #sarver
— DABDA - Back to anger (@Dunker_13) September 13, 2022
What do you think: Is Robert Sarver's punishment from the NBA too light? Too harsh? About right?
Share your thoughts in the comments of this story and vote in our Twitter poll.
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver's punishment slammed by NBA community