The NBA announced the findings and punishment following the investigation of Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver.
After interviews with 320 people and an evaluation of more than 80,000 documents, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Sarver was found guilty of “workplace misconduct and organizational deficiencies” during his 17-year tenure as a team owner.
You can read more on USA TODAY.
Sarver was issued a one-year suspension and he cannot be in an NBA facility or attend any league events during that time. He will also pay a $10 million fine (the maximum amount that the league is allowed to hand out), which will then be given to organizations that address “race and gender-based issues” in the workplace.
While both punishments are notable, many NBA fans felt that the league did not go far enough. The league issued a lifetime ban on former L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling in 2014, and several individuals wondered why those same measures were not taken against Sarver.
You can see some of the immediate reactions to the news below:
The NBA set a precedent with how they handled the Donald Sterling situation… and chose not to follow it with Sarver?
Weird https://t.co/8YQeFrei8I
— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) September 13, 2022
The NBA already set a precedent with Donald Sterling, so the fact that Sarver's only suspended for a year is nuts.
— David remembered the @ (@DefiniteExpert) September 13, 2022
there’s no way robert sarver should be allowed to maintain ownership of the suns. adam silver set the precedent with donald sterling and should’ve kept it going now
— chihuahua business man (@RealSimbalism) September 13, 2022
Donald Sterling didn’t use a single slur on that tape. Robert Sarver did. On top of an investigation finding sexist and other inappropriate comments—none of which we have details about
idk how you justify allowing him to keep the team
— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) September 13, 2022
The other difference between Sarver and Sterling is (as far as I am aware) they don't got Sarver on camera Doing The Bad Things; it's dumb that video evidence makes things more real but that's how it is
— Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) September 13, 2022
Sarver should have received the Donald Sterling sentence — forced to sell and lifetime ban — on these findings alone.
What an embarrassment for Adam Silver and the NBA. https://t.co/ZesSvUFJbt
— Trevor Paxton (@trpaxton) 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
That suspension for Robert Sarver feels quite weak. I’m not sure what they expect is going to change a year from now with him.
If Donald Sterling was banned from the league, why aren’t you doing the same with Sarver?
— Matthew Cardenas (@Matt__Card) September 13, 2022
Given the findings, I fail to understand how his antics differed from Donald Sterling.
Sarver clearly felt very comfortable displaying blatant racism – which triggered a force of sale.
Sarver is getting off easy here. https://t.co/CWCZFYv2az
— Morten Stig Jensen (@msjnba) September 13, 2022
so it seems like the main difference between sarver and sterling is that sterling got caught on tape and also his market/franchise was much more valuable
— Jack Hamilton (@jack_hamilton) September 13, 2022
Why isnt Robert Sarver not getting the same treatment Donald Sterling got?
— Freakzilla Scott Steiner 😎 (@don_dodda123) September 13, 2022
