Robert Sarver is at the center of allegations of racism and misogyny, and enabling a toxic work culture during his 17-year tenure as owner of the Phoenix Suns.
In a shocking report by ESPN, which includes more than 70 interviews from current and former Suns employees, Sarver is accused of passing around a photo of his wife, Penny Sanders, in a Suns bikini while at a meeting.
Sarver, who took over the team in 2004, reportedly exposed the photo to staffers early on in his tenure as owner.
“We’re passing it around like a hot potato,” one former executive who was present during the meeting told ESPN. “Like, what in the hell are we supposed to do with this? That was just, you know, one early glimpse at the man.”
Sarver, through his legal team, responded: “This is a perfect example of how things get twisted,” he said. “In the first year of my ownership, a local apparel retailer had recently been awarded the license to sell official NBA branded swimwear. The retailer sent my wife and me a sample along with a brochure, and I took a picture of her in the sample.
“I took the brochure and picture of her and gave it to the people at the Suns in charge of overseeing merchandise with the message: ‘Here’s the catalog, this is what the swimsuit looks like, and if you have any interest in carrying this line in the team shop, then here’s the number to call.'”
According to more than a dozen Suns employees, Sarver made vulgar comments in all-staff meetings and discussed sexual details about oral sex with his wife.
Four former employees recalled several all-staff meetings, in which Sarver said he wore Magnum or extra-large condoms. Former employees also said Sarver asked players about their sex lives and the sexual prowess of their significant others.
Sarver denied talking about his sex life with employees and said he had “absolutely not” talked about condoms.
In the summer of 2015, the Suns reportedly targeted LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency, knowing that he wanted to play near his young children in Texas. Sarver allegedly then told two former basketball operations staffers that the Suns needed to have local strippers get pregnant with NBA players’ children so that players would feel obligated to stick around. Sarver allegedly saw it as a possible advantage in free agency and recruitment.
“A lot of the stuff he says is to get a big reaction,” a former employee said. “And who’s going to tell him that he can’t? He speaks in threats. He likes that awkwardness. He likes people to know that he’s in charge. He wants control. He wants control of every situation and every person.”
During a separate occasion, Sarver allegedly asked a woman whether he “owned” her to determine whether she worked for the Suns.
“Women have very little value,” one female former staffer said. “Women are possessions. And I think we’re nowhere close to where he thinks men are.”
Suns general manager James Jones told ESPN: “None of what’s been said describes the Robert Sarver I know, respect and like — it just doesn’t.”
Jason Rowley, president and CEO of the Suns, claimed the allegations against Sarver are untrue.
“This story is completely outrageous and false. It doesn’t represent — at all — the Robert Sarver I’ve worked alongside of for 15 years,” Rowley said. “He’s not a racist and he’s not a sexist.”
NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said the league has not “received a complaint of misconduct at the Suns organization through any of our processes, including our confidential workplace misconduct hotline or other correspondence.”
NBPA executive director Michele Roberts said she was not aware of any reports from players of misconduct by Sarver or the Suns.