Following an inquiry, the NBA ruled that Robert Sarver had participated in “workplace misbehaviour and organisational flaws,” which led to the league suspending him for a year and fining him $10 million.
The NBA requested a law firm to look into claims that Sarver had a history of racist, sexist, and unfriendly occurrences throughout his almost two-decade stint managing the organisation, and the results of that inquiry were released on Tuesday.
The NBA said in a statement on Tuesday that the report’s conclusions were based on interviews with 320 people, including current and former employees who worked for both teams while Sarver was managing partner, as well as more than 80,000 documents and materials, including emails, text messages, and videos.
The NBA said that Sarver “engaged in behaviour that obviously breached basic workplace norms, as reflected in club and League regulations and procedures,” citing a part of the study in its statement.
The letter stated, “This behaviour included the use of racially inappropriate language, unfair treatment of female workers, sex-related words and behaviour, and severe treatment of employees that at times amounted to bullying.”
ESPN originally revealed the charges against Sarver in November 2021 after the network claimed to have spoken to dozens of current and former team workers for its piece, some of whom allegedly described Sarver’s improper conduct.
He first refuted or rejected the majority of the charges through his legal counsel.
The NBA declared on Tuesday that Sarver is not permitted to be present at any office, arena, or practise facility used by an NBA or WNBA team, to attend or participate in any game, practise, or business partner activity, to represent the Suns or Mercury in any official or unofficial capacity, or to be involved in any way with the team’s commercial or basketball operations.
The $10 million punishment, which is the highest permitted under NBA law, would be donated, according to the league, “to organisations that are dedicated to tackling racial and gender-based concerns in and outside the workplace.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated, “The remarks and actions outlined in the results of the independent inquiry are concerning and disheartening.
“We feel the result is the appropriate one, given all the facts, circumstances, and context revealed by the thorough examination of this 18-year period, as well as our commitment to enforcing proper standards in NBA workplaces,” the statement reads.
During his ban, Sarver will also have to finish a training course “centred on respect and acceptable behaviour in the workplace,” the NBA stated.
The league will mandate a number of workplace enhancements for the Suns and Mercury, including hiring outside companies to “focus on establishing a diverse, inclusive, and courteous workplace.”
To make sure that the right workplace culture is in place, anonymous surveys of those firms’ employees will be conducted often. Any incidents of serious employee misconduct, or even accusations of such behaviour, must be reported to the NBA and WNBA without delay.
For three years, all of those restrictions will be in effect.
The league said that Sarver, the Suns, and Mercury “cooperated completely with the investigation process.”
We all need to understand the damaging and harmful effects of racially insensitive and insulting words and conduct, Silver added, regardless of position, authority, or intent.
“I sincerely regret to all individuals affected by the misbehaviour detailed in the investigators’ findings on behalf of the entire NBA. We must do better.”
The Suns Legacy Partners, which runs the Suns and Mercury, said in a statement that it is dedicated to fostering “a safe, courteous, and inclusive work environment” and that many of the problems the investigations identified inside the company were old and had been fixed recently.
Despite this, the statement continued, “We accept the NBA’s conclusions and, to the extent that we have not already done so, will implement the workstation changes the NBA has highlighted.”
The statement added, “Our company will continue to create a best-in-class workplace going ahead. We are pleased of the accomplishments we’ve already accomplished.”