Robert Sarver, owner of the Phoenix Suns and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, has been suspended from both teams for one year and fined $10 million after an NBA-commissioned independent investigation confirmed prior reporting that Sarver had sexually harassed employees and used racial slurs in the workplace.
The punishments were announced in a statement released by the NBA on Tuesday.
The allegations first surfaced in a damning ESPN report published in November 2021.
In the report, former Suns head coach Earl Watson claimed Sarver had repeatedly used the N-word in his presence, in the context of paraphrasing Black players using it on the court.
"You know, why does Draymond Green get to run up the court and say [N-word]," Sarver said to Watson in October 2016, according to ESPN.
"You can't say that," Watson, who is Black and Hispanic, told Sarver.
"Why?" Sarver replied. "Draymond Green says [N-word]."
In the ESPN report, Sarver, through his lawyers, denied using racially insensitive language.
Sarver also allegedly made comments about the physical appearance of female employees, and reportedly openly discussed details of his sex life with his wife in front of them.
The investigation also found that Sarver was generally abusive of his underlings, including yelling and cursing at them.
Sarver "engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards, as reflected in team and League rules and policies," according to a summary of the investigation. "This conduct included the use of racially insensitive language; unequal treatment of female employees; sex-related statements and conduct; and harsh treatment of employees that on occasion constituted bullying."
As part of the suspension, Sarver is banned from any team- or league-related activities or publicly representing those entities in any capacity.
In addition to the ban and fine, Sarver is also required to complete a training program "focused on respect and appropriate conduct in the workplace."
Sarver's suspension comes eight years after former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was handed a lifetime ban and forced to sell the team after it was revealed he had used racist and bigoted language, including in reference to Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
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