He also “engaged in unequal treatment of female employees, made numerous comments about sex in the workplace, made inappropriate comments about the physical appearance of female employees and other women, and on several occasions engaged in inappropriate physical behavior toward male employees. “ “Read Sarver’s stories a few times now,” James tweeted. “I have to be honest…Certainly the league was wrong. I don’t need to explain why. Read the stories and make up your own mind. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there’s no place in this league for that kind of behavior. “I love this league and have the utmost respect for our leadership. But this is not right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism and racism in any workplace. It doesn’t matter if you own the team or play for the team. We are keeping our league as an example of our values and this is not it”. According to the NBA, 320 current and former employees who worked for Sarver were interviewed. The NBA said Sarver and the Suns and Mercury organizations cooperated with the investigation. Sarver, who has been the majority owner of the Suns and Mercury since 2004, cannot have any involvement with the team during the lengthy suspension and must complete an on-the-job training program. The $10 million fine is the maximum allowed as defined by NBA rules. Paul, a 12-time All-Star who has played for the Suns since 2020, also said the NBA’s punishment should have been more severe. “Like many others, I reviewed the report. I was and am appalled and disappointed by what I read,” Paul wrote on Twitter. “This behavior especially towards women is unacceptable and should never happen again. “I am of the view that the sanctions have failed to really address what we can all agree was appalling behaviour. My heart goes out to all the people affected.” In 2014, then-Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned for life from the NBA and forced to sell the franchise after he was recorded making racist comments. NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who had not been in his role long before the Sterling allegations came to light, explained why Sarver was not banned for life for his comments. “This case is very different and it’s not like one was caught on tape and the other wasn’t,” Silver said, according to NBA.com. “Indefensible isn’t quite strong — it’s beyond the pale in every possible way — but it was a completely different context than what we saw on that previous occasion. “Looking back at his hiring history, his history of supporting specific employees, what real people said about him — while there were terrible things — there were also many, many people who had very positive things to say about me. in my mind. “There are certain rights here, someone who owns an NBA team as opposed to someone who is an employee. The equivalent of a $10 million fine and a one year suspension, I don’t know how to measure that with a job. I don’t have the right to remove his team… but for me the consequences are serious.”
