SOURCE SPORTS: Phoenix Suns Respond To NBA’s Suspension of Owner Robert Sarver

robert sarver phoenix suns

The Phoenix Suns say they’re committed to creating a safe and inclusive work environment after the NBA suspended their owner Robert Sarver for workplace misconduct issues.  

Sarver was handed a one year suspension and $10 million fine after a 10-month investigation. The NBA found he used racial slurs, made sexual-related comments to women in the workplace, and engaged in harsh treatment of employees.  

READ MORE: SOURCE SPORTS: NBA Suspends Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver from Organization Based on Violations of Workplace Standards

In a statement, the team said they’ve been in full cooperation with the league during its investigation that included accounts from current and former employees of the organization.  

The Suns said the findings of the probe have already been addressed in recent years through “meaningful enhancements” to their workplace compliance program.  

The team added Sarver is taking responsibility for his actions and recognizes his behavior didn’t meet the organization’s expectations. Sarver also owns the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.

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SOURCE SPORTS: NBA Suspends Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver from Organization Based on Violations of Workplace Standards

NBA Suspends Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver from Organization Based on Violations of Workplace Standards

Robert Sarver, the owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Pheonix Mercury, has been suspended for one year and fined $10 million by the league.

In an announcement on Tuesday, the NBA stated an investigation showed that Sarver used the N-word at least five times “when recounting the statements of others.”

In addition, Sarver was found to exhibit “instances of inequitable conduct toward female employees,” including “sex-related comments” and comments on their appearances.

The investigation is connected to an ESPN story published in November 2021 highlighting allegations of racism and misogyny.

Sarver resisted the thought of a fine and suspension, despite New York-based law firm Wachtell Lipton finding Sarver “engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards, as reflected in team and league rules and policies.”

Despite his use of the n-word and “sex-related comments,” the NBA states, “the investigation made no finding that Mr. Sarver’s workplace misconduct was motivated by racial or gender-based animus.”

“While I disagree with some of the particulars of the NBA’s report, I would like to apologize for my words and actions that offended our employees,” Sarver said in a statement. “I take full responsibility for what I have done. I am sorry for causing this pain, and these errors in judgment are not consistent with my personal philosophy or my values.

“I accept the consequences of the NBA’s decision. This moment is an opportunity for me to demonstrate a capacity to learn and grow as we continue to build a working culture where every employee feels comfortable and valued.”

The Suns, as an organization, would release their own separate statement.

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Lil Wayne and Mark Cuban Share a Moment Courtside During Western Conference Finals

H.E.R., Lil Wayne, The Isley Brothers Are Set To Headline 2021 One Music Festival

As the Western Conference Finals were heating up last week, so was a beef between Lil Wayne and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Lil Wayne was rooting for Phoenix Suns in their second-round matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns would lose but earlier in the series, Weezy let off his feelings about Mavs superstar Luka Doncic, calling him a “ho.”

Once the Suns were blown out and bounced out of the playoffs, Mavs owner Mark Cuban found that tweet and offered one of his own, using lyrics from Wayne’s “Uproar.”

Wayne saw it and fired back: “Mark Cuban don’t make me et u smacked boy U playin w me?? I will piss in ya fkn mouth ho”

He also dropped this one that hasn’t been deleted:

Wayne’s manager Mack Maine arranged for the brief war of words to stop and now the two met courtside in San Francisco.

Wayne’s friend Skip Bayless provided some additional details.

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Lil Wayne Responds to Mark Cuban Trolling Him: “I Will Piss In Ya Mouth”

H.E.R., Lil Wayne, The Isley Brothers Are Set To Headline 2021 One Music Festival

Who knew that Lil Wayne would find beef in the NBA, and with an owner! Lil Wayne was rooting for Phoenix Suns in their second-round matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns would lose but earlier in the series, Weezy let off his feelings about Mavs superstar Luka Doncic, calling him a “ho.”

Once the Suns were blown out and bounced out of the playoffs, Mavs owner Mark Cuban found that tweet and offered one of his own, using lyrics from Wayne’s “Uproar.”

Wayne saw it and fired back: “Mark Cuban don’t make me et u smacked boy U playin w me?? I will piss in ya fkn mouth ho”

He also dropped this one that hasn’t been deleted:

Mark Cuban has not said anything else. The Mavericks will kick off with the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night.

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Skip Bayless Said Lil Wayne Told Him Monty Williams Told Deandre Ayton ‘You Quit On Us’ In The World’s Weirdest Game Of Telephone

Of the many subplots of the Suns disastrous Game 7 performance against the Mavs on Sunday night, the one that has the most bearing on Phoenix’s future is that of Deandre Ayton’s standing with the team.

Ayton played just 17 minutes and when Monty Williams was asked why Ayton got benched after the game, he sternly replied “it’s internal” and moved on to other topics. On Monday, Williams and Ayton had still not sat down to discuss whatever happened 1-on-1, although Monty had spoken with the team and seemed ready to move on, but given Ayton’s status as a restricted free agent this summer set to command a max contract, that entire situation complicates the Suns’ summer plans.

There were rumblings on Twitter from some fans in the Footprint Center near the Suns bench of an argument in the second half between Ayton and Williams in a tunnel, but no visual confirmation from TV cameras or anything that was noticed by those covering the game live. As such, that hasn’t become the massive topic it would if there were such video evidence and mostly it’s been a lot of shrugging and speculating on Ayton’s future.

However, Skip Bayless had a man on the ground in Phoenix sitting across from the Suns bench, none other than Lil Wayne (who got roasted for his “Luka a ho” tweet from earlier in the series), and was willing to report that Williams and Ayton had a spat that led to them being separated after Williams, allegedly, told Ayton he “quit on us.”

Now, this is a wild game of telephone going from Lil Wayne seated across the court and either hearing this or lip-reading it (Bayless wasn’t sure which) and then relaying it to his close personal friend Skip Bayless who brought this information to a national TV audience. At some point, especially if Ayton departs Phoenix this summer, we will likely get some stronger sourced reporting on what exactly happened that got Ayton benched, but this would certainly explain why Monty was clearly upset about it after the game and not willing to discuss the matter.

If it ends up being the case, then everyone better credit pre-eminent NBA newsbreaker Lil Wayne for having the scoop first.

SOURCE SPORTS: Luka Doncic and Dallas Mavericks Blast Top Ranked Suns to Advance To Western Conference Finals

Luka Doncic and Dallas Mavericks Blast Top Ranked Suns to Advance To Western Conference Finals

Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks demolished and embarrassed the Phoenix Suns in game 7 to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

The top-seeded Suns had the best regular-season record and were early favorites for the 2022 NBA championship. Unfortunately, they didn’t look that dominant during game 7.

Doncic led all scorers with 33 points to go with 11 rebounds and eight assists. Reggie Bullock and Jalen Brunson helped the Mavs cause, combining for 37 points.

The Suns, who were coming off a 30-point victory in Game 5, struggled again on the road. Chris Paul had only 13 points on seven field-goal attempts. Devin Booker scored 19 but missed all four of his 3-pointers.

Doncic and the Mavericks will now turn their attention to the Golden State Warriors, looking to return to the NBA Finals for the first time in two seasons. The Mavericks could provide a matchup nightmare for the Warriors as Doncic will give the Dubs all kinds of problems.

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Lil Wayne’s ‘Luka A Ho’ Tweet Got Dunked On Repeatedly As Doncic Buried The Suns In Game 7 With Him Courtside

The Dallas Mavericks thought it would be fun to kick the hell out of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night during Game 7 of their Western Conference Semifinal series. Dallas walked into Phoenix and put on a crazy shooting display, while the Suns’ offense could not get off the ground, as evidenced by their 27 first half points.

A number of famous folks in attendance, including Lil Wayne, who joined the Suns last postseason as they celebrated making the NBA Finals. Weezy has had a close eye on this series, as evidenced by this tweet he sent during Game 5.

Well, as it turns out, saying that about a dude a few days before he comes out and plays a role in launching the opposing team into orbit doesn’t work out great when you’re famous. Because during Game 7, people on the internet decided to quote tweet this ruthlessly and dunk on Wayne with such ease that you’d think he, too, was playing defense for the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

It is not clear whether or not Doncic has seen this tweet, but given how well he played during Game 7, I don’t think anyone would be surprised if we learned that he was a little mad that Lil Wayne called him out.

SOURCE SPORTS: Suns Monty Williams Named NBA Coach of the Year

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Phoenix Suns Monty Williams has been named 2022 NBA coach of the year. A season after coaching the Suns to the NBA Finals, Williams led Phoenix to the NBA’s best record in 2021-22. 

The honor is a first for Williams, who’s in his eighth season as an NBA head coach. He spent five seasons as the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans head coach before joining the Suns in 2019.

Williams won the award over Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies and Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat. Williams is the third Suns’ coach to win the award. Mike D’Antoni was the last Suns coach to win the award in 2005.

Williams coached through some brutal injuries to star players. The Suns went 18-6 without Deandre Ayton, 11-6 without Chris Paul, and 8-6 without Devin Booker.

The suns still manage to have the best record in the league and third rank defense in the league.

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