Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Suns owner Robert Sarver suspended, fined $10 million following investigation into workplace misconduct

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Jason Burgos | Last updated 9/13/22

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver is being hit with a year-long suspension and is being fined a maximum of $10 million following the completion of an investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct.

On Tuesday, the NBA announced that after conducting interviews with Sarver and 320 former and current Suns employees and going through over 80,000 documents, emails text messages and videos, the league found that the owner of the Suns and the WNBA’s Mercury “engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards, as well as team and league rules and policies.”

The violations by Sarver included using racially insensitive language, unequal treatment of female employees, sex-related statements and conduct, as well as “harsh treatment” of employees that occasionally could be viewed as outright bullying.

In addition to the suspension and fine, Sarver must “complete a training program focused on respect and appropriate conduct in the workplace." The league will also donate the funds from the fine to organizations that address race and gender-based issues in and out of the workplace.

The NBA’s report goes into detail about the findings that led to the strong penalty levied on the Suns’ boss.

The league discovered that on at least five occasions, Sarver used “the N-word” when recalling things said by others. There was a slew of issues when it came to female employees that included comments on the physical appearance of women in the organization and inequitable conduct toward female employees.

Sarver also reportedly made sex-related comments in the workplace, and “on several occasions engaged in inappropriate physical conduct toward male employees.” Furthermore, during the 18-year period of the investigation, Sarver also was found to have engaged in demeaning and harsh treatment of his employees, which included “yelling and cursing at them.”

The investigation came following an ESPN expose in November 2021 year that revealed various allegations about the Sarver's questionable behavior as the team’s figurehead for nearly two decades.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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