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Man behind 2017 #SarverOut billboard speaks out as Suns get ready for NBA Finals
In 2017, Alex Smith raised money to put up a series of billboards calling on Suns owner Robert Sarver to sell the team, as the team was in the midst of some bad seasons. Now, Smith is singing a rather different tune. FOX 10's Bailey Miller reports.
PHOENIX - Just two season off the worst record in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns are so close to bringing home a championship, and a die hard Suns fan who once called on team owner Robert Sarver to step down is turning a new leaf.
Related: Billboards that call on Robert Sarver to step down as Phoenix Suns' owner are up
In late 2017, billboards with the hashtag #SarverOut were displayed on electronic billboard near Grand Avenue and Loop 101. Alex Smith set up a GoFundMe for the endeavor, and raised thousands of dollars to put up the billboards.
"I think it's real easy to take fans for granted, and just expect them to show up everyday because we're an NBA team, come see us," said Alex Smith in 2017. "At the end of the day, people like myself don't have money to throw away for these tickets, if we're not seeing any value for it."
At the time, the Suns troubles even caught national attention, with a Sports Illustrated article that even advocated Sarver to sell the Suns.
"He's a smart businessman, that's how he made his money, and I think he'd be silly not to look at the current value of the team right now and see what he can get for it," said Smith in 2017.
Nowadays, Smith is singing a different tune.
"It is really hard to put into words, to go from the last ten years or so to four games away from bringing home the championships," said Smith.
Smith said he is happy the Suns' bad days are in the past, at least for now.
"It is hard to wash away ten bad years with one good year, especially in sports. Winning seems to fix everything right now. I have nothing but love for Robert Sarver if he has learned from his ways and the errors of his ways, and continues to invest and bring good players, coaches," said Smith.
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