Baxter Holmes Close ESPN Senior Writer Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) is a senior writer for ESPN Digital and Print, focusing on the NBA. He has covered the Lakers, Celtics and previously worked for The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times. Malika Andrews Close ESPN Staff Writer Staff Writer He joined ESPN in 2018 He appears regularly on the ESPN Chicago 1000
NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio, saying she was speaking on behalf of NBA players, on Friday called for a lifetime ban for Phoenix Suns majority owner Robert Sarver, who received a one-year suspension from the league for racist and misogynistic comments . Close ESPN Senior Writer
Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) is a senior writer for ESPN Digital and Print, focusing on the NBA. He has covered the Lakers, Celtics and previously worked for The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times.
Close ESPN Staff Writer
Staff Writer He joined ESPN in 2018 He appears regularly on the ESPN Chicago 1000
“We definitely ask for it [lifetime ban]Tremaglio said in an interview with ESPN’s NBA Today. “We don’t want him in a position where he’s managing or dealing with people dealing with our players or the players themselves. We are absolutely clear from the findings in the report that we do not want them to be in that position.” 2 Related Tremaglio confirmed she was speaking on behalf of the players, with her remarks coming after Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Suns point guard Chris Paul tweeted their dismay at the NBA’s suspension of Sarver earlier. this week. “It’s the wishes of our players, while we understand that a thorough investigation has been done, and while we’re very pleased that the NBA was able to follow through — because that’s clearly something we want to see happen — we also want to make it very clear that we don’t we want him back in a position where he impacts our players and those who serve our players on a daily basis,” Tremaglio said. In addition to the one-year suspension, Sarver was also fined $10 million after the NBA on Tuesday released its findings from a 10-month independent investigation into allegations of workplace abuse during Sarver’s tenure as a Suns managing partner that lasted almost two decades. . The NBA commissioned an investigation in the wake of an ESPN story in November 2021 detailing allegations of racism and misogyny during Sarver’s 17 years as owner. Tremaglio told ESPN that she has expressed her views to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, though it remains unclear whether the league’s punishment of Sarver will be changed. “I don’t know how open [Silver] it’s in terms of us wanting to make the change,” Tremaglio said. “I think hopefully it will be very clear that Mr. Sarver should not be able to come back and be in a management position. We have heard from other owners. We have heard from sponsors etc. I think it is clear that there is no expectation of his return.” Tremaglio was asked if there have been discussions with players about boycotting games as training camp approaches. “We haven’t had those discussions yet,” Tremaglio said. “We’re all preparing for a season … But I think it’s very clear that our players are incredibly upset about what happened. Their hearts go out to the families and all the people who actually had to endure this. long time. But at the same time they recognize that they have a job to do and they’re really excited to move forward with the season.” Added Tremaglio: “Honestly, I know we never want our players to be in a position where they’re not safe or the people around them are not safe. Mr. Sarver had the ability to set the tone at the top. And for us Having people in a leadership role impacting the game in this way is detrimental to the success of our players and the safety of our players and that will not be tolerated.”
