NBA

NBA commissioner Silver backs Sarver decision to sell Suns and Mercury

By Sports Desk September 21, 2022

NBA commissioner Adam Silver says Robert Sarver's decision to sell the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury is "right next step for the organisation and community."

Sarver on Wednesday announced that he intends to sell up after an investigation found him to have engaged in racist and sexist conduct.

The 60-year-old was suspended for one year and fined $10million by the NBA last week after an investigation questioned 320 people over allegations about Sarver's behaviour during his 18 years with the Suns.

Silver believes it is the right move from Sarver to seek buyers for the Suns and Mercury.

He said: "I fully support the decision by Robert Sarver to sell the Phoenix Suns and Mercury. This is the right next step for the organisation and community."

Sarver earlier declared: "Words that I deeply regret now overshadow nearly two decades of building organisations that brought people together – and strengthened the Phoenix area – through the unifying power of professional men's and women's basketball. 

"I expected that the commissioner's one-year suspension would provide the time for me to focus, make amends and remove my personal controversy from the teams that I and so many fans love.

"But in our current unforgiving climate, it has become painfully clear that that is no longer possible – that whatever good I have done, or could still do, is outweighed by things I have said in the past.

"For those reasons, I am beginning the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury.

"I do not want to be a distraction to these two teams and the fine people who work so hard to bring the joy and excitement of basketball to fans around the world.

"I want what's best for these two organisations, the players, the employees, the fans, the community, my fellow owners, the NBA and the WNBA. This is the best course of action for everyone.

"In the meantime, I will continue to work on becoming a better person, and continuing to support the community in meaningful ways. Thank you for continuing to root for the Suns and the Mercury, embracing the power that sports has to bring us together."

Related items

  • Celtics star Tatum aims for NBA Finals redemption Celtics star Tatum aims for NBA Finals redemption

    Jayson Tatum views the upcoming NBA Finals as a chance at redemption for the Boston Celtics after falling short two years ago.

    The Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers to reach the showpiece seven-game series, where they face the Dallas Mavericks.

    With Game 1 of the much-anticipated series coming on Friday, Tatum looked back at the 2022 Finals defeat to the Golden State Warriors, using the disappointment as motivation this time around.

    "It's a lot that myself, and we, can learn from that experience being in the Finals, and this time, this go-around is a lot different," Tatum said after Saturday's practice.

    "Obviously, we've been there before, we came up short. And a great opportunity to make it to the Finals again.

    "You don't always get a second chance, so really just looking at it as a second chance and trying to simplify things as much as we can."

    The Celtics were eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat last year, losing in seven games.

    That has prevented Boston from avenging their finals defeat to Golden State the year before, though Tatum is keen to make up for lost time.

    He will have to do so against former team-mate Kyrie Irving, however.

    "Obviously there were some ups and downs, but I think, for me, being a first-, second-year player, being around a superstar, essentially, every day and seeing how to navigate that space," Tatum said.

    "And then obviously on the court, he's one of the most talented guys I've ever seen.

    "So it seems like a very long time ago, but I've got a lot of great memories from having [Irving] as a team-mate."

  • Kings extend head coach Brown through 2026-27 Kings extend head coach Brown through 2026-27

    The Sacramento Kings and head coach Mike Brown have agreed to a contract extension through 2026-27.

    According to multiple reports, the deal is worth $30 million with Brown’s base salary to be $8.5 million annually. He will have the opportunity to earn $10 million per year with bonuses.

    In his first year with the Kings a season ago, Brown led the team to a 48-34 record and its first playoff appearance in 16 years. He was named 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year.

    Sacramento went 46-36 this past season and beat Golden State in its first game before losing a play-in game for the eighth seed to New Orleans.

    Brown and Rick Adelman are the only Kings coaches to lead the team to a winning record in any season since the franchise moved to Sacramento in 1985.

    Brown has a 441-226 record as head coach with Cleveland, the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento.

  • 'It was Luka magic mode', Kidd revels as Doncic-inspired Mavs reach NBA Finals 'It was Luka magic mode', Kidd revels as Doncic-inspired Mavs reach NBA Finals

    Luka Doncic was in "magic mode" after his starring role helped the Dallas Mavericks to their first NBA Finals since 2011, coach Jason Kidd said.

    The Mavs and the Boston Celtics will battle it out for this season's NBA championship after Dallas wrapped up a 4-1 Western Conference finals series victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    A 124-103 win did the trick at Target Center on Thursday, with Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the way for the Mavs with 36 points apiece.

    Doncic was quick out of the blocks, scoring 20 of his points during the first half on the way to notching up his highest-scoring contributions of the postseason, with his performances earning the Western Conference finals MVP award.

    "It was Luka magic mode," Kidd said. "He set the tone, and then he made it easier for everyone else. Everybody else stepped up."

    "You're just watching a special performance take place," Irving added. "When Luka starts off a game like that, we're a tough team to beat."

    Indeed, they are. The Mavs are 7-2 on the road during the playoffs - winning the last five - matching the franchise record for such victories during a single postseason, set in their title-winning campaign of 2010-11.

    A EuroBasket champion with Slovenia and EuroLeague winner during his final season with Real Madrid, Doncic is now gearing up for his first crack at an NBA title, with the Finals series commencing on June 6.

    And he insists his team-mates cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

    "It was a very hard road, very hard," Doncic said. "But we're not done. We have four more [victories to achieve]."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.