The Commissioner "Would Be Appalled": Details Released Of Blockbuster Scandal Involving Suns Owner Robert Sarver

Word leaked out a couple of weeks back of allegations of racism and misogyny related to Phoenix Suns' owner Robert Sarver, and now ESPN has released the story in all its gory details. 

“If the commissioner comes in and investigates to see what the f--- is going on in Phoenix, [he]
would be appalled.”

Based on interviews w/ 70+ current & former employees throughout his 17-year tenure as owner, my story on Robert Sarver’s Phoenix Suns: https://t.co/PMvMyBdr2N

— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) November 4, 2021

The feature story begins by recounting the time that Sarver came into the Suns locker room after a loss to the Golden State Warriors, and said "You know, why does Draymond Green get to run up the court and say [N-word]," then repeating the N-word several times in a row. "You can't say that," replied his new coach Earl Watson, who is Black and Hispanic. 

"Why?" Sarver replied. "Draymond Green says [N-word]."

"You can't f---ing say that!" Watson repeated. 

And it gets uglier from there. One of the Suns' co-owners was reported to have said about Sarver, "the level of misogyny and racism is beyond the pale. It's embarrassing as an owner."

The content of the exposé was leaked a couple of weeks ago, and Sarver and the Suns denied the overall context of the story, saying "I am wholly shocked by some of the allegations purported by ESPN about me, personally, or about the Phoenix Suns... I can certainly tell you that some of the claims I find completely repugnant to my nature." 

Why he kept saying "some of the claims" but not "all" is left open to interpretation. 

Others in the story refer to a "toxic and sometimes hostile work environment", and other instances of Sarver using the N-word. 

One current Suns' employee is quoted as saying, "If the commissioner comes in and investigates to see what the f--- is going on in Phoenix, [he] would be appalled.”

Former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned from the NBA for life in 2014 by commissioner Adam Silver when he was revealed to harbor the same tendencies as those alleged here of Sarver. 

The ball is now in Silver's court. 

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports