The NBA has suspended Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury owner Robert Sarver after an internal investigation discovered he used racial slurs multiple times and engaged in instances of sexual misconduct.
The basketball organization conducted an independent investigation after a November 2021 ESPN article came out about alleged statements and conduct made by Sarver, according to a press release on Tuesday.
Sarver was found to have, on at least five occasions, used the slur “n*****” when recounting the statements of others. He also engaged in instances of “inequitable conduct” toward both male and female employees, such as making sex-related comments or inappropriate comments about females’ physical appearance, investigators found.
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“The independent investigation found that Mr. Sarver ‘engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards,'” the release read.
He has been suspended for one year and fined $10 million, which is the maximum permitted by the NBA’s constitution and bylaws. He will be unable to be present at any NBA or WNBA event, activity, or facility, as well as any involvement with the business or operations of either Arizona team.
The independent investigation included interviews with 320 people, both current and former employees who worked for Sarver’s teams over his 18-year tenure, and reviews of more than 80,000 documents, as well as text messages, emails, and videos.
NBA stated that Sarver “cooperated fully” with the investigation process. The release states that, despite the confirmed misconduct, “Mr. Sarver informed the investigators of his personal and professional efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion” and that his actions were not racially or gender biased or done with hostile intent.
“The statements and conduct described in the findings of the independent investigation are troubling and disappointing,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “I am hopeful that the NBA community will use this opportunity to reflect on what this great game means to people everywhere and the values of equality, respect and inclusion that it strives to represent. … We must do better.”
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The investigation also uncovered several instances of workplace misconduct unrelated to Sarver. However, most Suns employees who engaged in those acts are no longer employed by the organization.
The Suns and Mercury also hired a new human resources head who, among other executives, began implementing workplace changes in 2021.
