The fallout continues from the Robert Sarver saga, with the Phoenix Suns owner suspended for one year and fined $10 million for inappropriate actions in the workplace. The situation is appearing like a public relations nightmare for the NBA as many, including Suns fans, have criticized the lack of penalty given the seriousness nature of the offenses.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver only worsened the NBA’s position in the aftermath of the suspension and fine handed to Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver.
If the aim of Silver’s Wednesday press conference was to clarify and articulate the NBA’s stance on the Sarver situation, he monumentally failed. Usually well spoken and highly respected, Silver’s comments only exacerbated an already delicate situation.
Asked by reporter Howard Beck on why standards for NBA owners are different to others who work in the league, Silver gave this controversial response: “There are particular rights here to someone who owns an NBA team as opposed to someone who is an employee.”
Adam Silver discusses the differing standards for NBA governors compared to other league employees when taking questions about Robert Sarver’s fine and suspension pic.twitter.com/SKUXnJ9hia
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 14, 2022
That is simply a disastrous comment to make, one that the NBA quickly sought to rectify. NBA spokesman Mike Bass had this to say in the aftermath of Silver’s press conference:
"“Commissioner Silver’s answer to a question about the rights of business owners did not mean to suggest that NBA players, team employees, & team owners are not held to the same standard of appropriate conduct. They absolutely are.”"
The biggest issue here is that Silver’s comments are believable, purely because they reflect the penalties handed down 24 hours earlier. Simply put, if Sarver’s actions were performed by 99% of NBA employees, they’d be removed from their job with swift nature.
As staggering as the comments are, we should be further focused on the disappointment of this reality – that penalties do adjust based on the significance of the perpetrator. Meanwhile, LeBron James and Chris Paul led the criticism from players’ perspectives, only adding to the potential impact within the Suns locker room.
Read through the Sarver stories a few times now. I gotta be honest…Our league definitely got this wrong. I don’t need to explain why. Y’all read the stories and decide for yourself. I said it before and I’m gonna say it again, there is no place in this league for that kind of
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 14, 2022
I am of the view that the sanctions fell short in truly addressing what we can all agree was atrocious behavior. My heart goes out to all of the people that were affected.
— Chris Paul (@CP3) September 15, 2022
Given the public backlash over the past 36 hours, this situation won’t and shouldn’t be swept under the carpet in the manner that the NBA may wish.