Phoenix Suns: Was Devin Booker too honest in his Sarver comments?

The Phoenix Suns media day interviews were always going to provide some fascinating intel, particularly in relation to players thoughts on the Robert Sarver findings.

The franchise owner was suspended and fined a fortnight ago after an NBA investigation found a workplace culture of misogyny, racism and sexual harassment. A week later Sarver stated his intention to sell the Suns and Phoenix Mercury, citing the public’s inability to forgive and provide him a chance to change.

Media day gave Monty Williams, James Jones and Phoenix Suns players the first chance to publicly provide their opinions on the Robert Sarver situation.

It appeared like there was no public relations objective to formulate a team response, leaving each individual player to give their own feelings and opinion. Phoenix franchise star Devin Booker certainly provided honesty, but perhaps too much so.

While it wasn’t a public defense of Sarver as a person, Booker made it clear that the findings of the investigation certainly didn’t marry up to the person he knew.

"“I have been here the longest. I’ve never known him as that man. I’ve never heard him say the ‘N word’, I’ve never seen him do any of it. To read it, I’m not disregarding what anybody said, that’s just not how I know the man, Booker said.”"

Perhaps Booker should have been a little more sensitive to those who suffered as a result of Sarver’s actions. The reality is that he, as the franchise cornerstone, is going to be treated differently than practically everyone else in the organization.

That’s fair, he’s earnt the superstar status. But at the same time, he needs to be aware that what goes around in his presence doesn’t necessarily pertain to the rest of the workplace. Put it this way – Sarver, or anyone for that matter, isn’t going to run the risk of alienating their star player by displaying acts of racism, misogyny or sexual harassment in their company.

This isn’t a knock on Booker the person, and largely we enjoy the openness and honesty of all players. But in this instance, given the recency and sensitivity of the situation, perhaps he could have been less forthright in his own evaluation of Sarver.