Suns vice chairman calls for Robert Sarver to resign; Paypal threatens to end team sponsorship
PHOENIX - The fallout over the investigation involving Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver continues after PayPal announced plans to end their sponsorship with the organization at the end of the season.
PayPal said its current partnership deal with the Suns ends after the coming 2022-23 season, meaning it will expire during Sarver's one-year suspension from the NBA.
Sarver was suspended this week, plus fined $10 million, after an investigation showed a pattern of lewd, misogynistic, and racist speech and conduct during his 18 years as owner of the Suns.
The financial technology company said their sponsorship would expire "should Robert Sarver remain involved with the Suns organization after serving his suspension."
"We have reviewed the report of the NBA league's independent investigation into Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver and have found his conduct unacceptable and in conflict with our values," PayPal said in a statement.
Schulman said PayPal will remain supportive of the team, its players "and the experienced and diverse talent now leading the organization," including coach Monty Williams, general manager James Jones, assistant general manager Morgan Cato and senior vice president of people and culture Kim Corbitt.
Williams, Jones, Cato and Corbitt are Black. The investigation into Sarver showed he "repeated or purported to repeat the N-word on at least five occasions spanning his tenure with the Suns," though noted that the independent lawyers hired by the NBA to conduct the probe made "no finding that Sarver used this racially insensitive language with the intent to demean or denigrate."
PayPal is based in San Jose, California. The technology platform and digital payments company also has been a partner for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and a Spanish soccer team, both owned by Sarver.
Suns vice chairman speaks out
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver attends Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals at Footprint Center on October 13, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Sky 91-86 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
One day earlier, Suns Vice Chairman Jahm Najafi called on Sarver to resign after the NBA suspended the owner for one year and fined him $10 million following an investigation into claims of racism and sexual harassment.
On Sept. 14, the league suspended Sarver for one year from the Suns and Mercury organizations.
The NBA launched its investigation after ESPN published a report, accusing Sarver of multiple racist, misogynistic and hostile incidents during his tenure as owner of the Suns.
Sarver denied the allegations that were published in the report.
Once the investigation ended, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver decided a one-year suspension and $10 million fine was the appropriate penalty. He said Wednesday that one key finding by outside investigators — that while Sarver "repeated or purported to repeat the N-word on at least five occasions spanning his tenure with the Suns," investigators made "no finding that Sarver used this racially insensitive language with the intent to demean or denigrate" — likely spared him a much stiffer penalty.
MORE: Read the full 43-page independent investigators' report
In a statement on Sept. 15, Suns Vice Chairman Jahm Najafi said he cannot "sit back and allow our children and future generations of fans to think that this behavior is tolerated because of wealth and privilege."
"Therefore, in accordance with my commitment to helping eradicate any form of racism, sexism and bias, as Vice Chairman of the Phoenix Suns, I am calling for the resignation of Robert Sarver," Najafi said in a statement.
Najafi has been critical of Sarver throughout this saga, which broke when ESPN released a story in November detailing widespread claims of wrongdoing by Sarver. That reporting prompted the NBA to commission an investigation. Najafi is one of three vice chairmen for the Suns, with several other minority investors also part of the ownership group.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Suns guard Chris Paul later released statements on social media saying the NBA’s sanctions of Sarver didn’t go far enough.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and four councilmembers also released a joint statement, saying that they've asked city staff to investigate any actions leaders can take in light of the NBA's investigative report.
Najafi agreed. In his letter, he also said he has "no interest" in becoming the managing partner.
"Similar conduct by any CEO, executive director, president, teacher, coach or any other position of leadership would warrant immediate termination," he said in the letter released through the LAVIDGE public relations firm. "The fact that Robert Sarver ‘owns’ the team does not give him a license to treat others differently than any other leader. The fact that anyone would find him fit to lead because of this ‘ownership’ position is forgetting that NBA teams belong to the communities they serve."
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and four councilmembers also released a joint statement, saying that they've asked city staff to investigate any actions leaders can take in light of the NBA's investigative report.
The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.
MORE: NBA considered suspending Suns owner Robert Sarver for more than 1 year
Full statement by Vice Chairman Jahm Najafi
"Due to the NBA’s investigation and findings, I have no choice but to speak up on behalf of the hundreds of you who have been impacted by your interactions with Robert Sarver and the resulting investigation of his conduct. I first and foremost want to give my deepest thanks to all of you who garnered the courage to share your experiences, as difficult as it may have been, to help piece together a clearer picture of what work life must have been like for you over these past 18 years.
There should be zero tolerance for discriminatory actions of any level, in any setting, let alone a professional one. There is no question that the findings determined that Mr. Sarver’s lewd, misogynist, and racist conduct had a substantial negative impact on you and has no place in our society. The report confirmed by multiple eyewitnesses that Robert Sarver used the "N-word" at least five times. The report confirmed Sarver engaged in conduct demeaning of female and pregnant employees. The report confirmed Sarver made crude and sexually inappropriate comments in professional settings. The report confirmed Sarver made inappropriate comments about the physical appearance of female employees and other women and made inappropriate workplace physical conduct toward male employees.
WORDS AND ACTIONS MATTER.
Similar conduct by any CEO, executive director, president, teacher, coach, or any other position of leadership would warrant immediate termination. The fact that Robert Sarver "owns" the team does not give him a license to treat others differently than any other leader. The fact that anyone would find him fit to lead because of this "ownership" position is forgetting that NBA teams belong to the communities they serve. Team investors are merely temporary stewards. If we, as sports leaders, are not held to the same standards then how can we expect a functional society with integrity and respect on any level? We owe it to you: employees, players, partners, and your families to provide the same positive workplace environment we would require of any other business.
I cannot in good judgment sit back and allow our children and future generations of fans to think that this behavior is tolerated because of wealth and privilege. Therefore, in accordance with my commitment to helping eradicate any form of racism, sexism and bias, as Vice Chairman of the Phoenix Suns, I am calling for the resignation of Robert Sarver. While I have no interest in becoming the managing partner, I will work tirelessly to ensure the next team steward treats all stakeholders with dignity, professionalism and respect."
Suns fans react to Sarver fallout
Phoenix Suns fans from all over the world are reacting after Robert Sarver was suspended for one year from the team and fined $10 million, following an investigation by the NBA into racism and sexual harassment claims against Sarver.
"It's 2022 man, you would think that we were a lot further in that development anti-racism and all that," said Luca Walther, a Suns fan from Germany.
"Any time you create, like, an uncomfortable place for anyone, especially as being the head of an organization, that's no way to run an organization. That's gonna create problems," said another Suns fan.
"Doesn't matter the amount of money, you can't make right what he said, so even if he was suspended for two years, three years – wouldn't be enough," Walther added.