The NBA made a major ruling yesterday after investigating Robert Sarver, owner of the Phoenx Suns.
It was found that Sarver had repeatedly said racist and sexist comments and also berated and verbally abused employees for years.
Because of this, the NBA suspended Sarver from any NBA event for an entire year and also fined him $10 million.
While that sentence is better than nothing, quite a few people are questioning the NBA’s choice to not ban Sarver for life.
As tough as it was to do, Robert Sarver's racism, misogyny and more is as worse as Donald Sterling's and very well may surpass it. How does the Suns owner get a pass to return to his throne after a year suspension and not pushed out the NBA like Sterling? Confused by this result.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 13, 2022
Marc J. Spears compares Sarver’s actions to those of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was permanently pushed out of the league and lost his ownership of the franchise following his horribly racist comments coming to light.
“As tough as it was to do, Robert Sarver’s racism, misogyny and more is as worse as Donald Sterling’s and very well may surpass it. How does the Suns owner get a pass to return to his throne after a year suspension and not pushed out the NBA like Sterling? Confused by this result,” Spears said on Twitter.
It’s hard not to at least partially agree with Spears here, because a single year and $10 million (which is not a punishable amount to Sarver) seem almost like a slap on the wrist.
Will the NBA respond?
Sarver’s Sentence
Spears isn’t the only person who is speaking out about the NBA’s ruling.
There are now many who feel the league went too easy on Sarver.
Some believe that the Suns owner should have lost his position in the league forever while others feel he should have lost at least a few seasons.
To someone with Sarver’s status, his fine is the equivalent of a speeding ticket.
Yet, it’s unlikely that the NBA will do anything more – they have made their ruling and they will stand by it.
But don’t be surprised if more and more journalists and NBA figures step up and demand more from their league.
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