Phoenix Suns and Mercury majority owner in Robert Sarver announced he’ll be selling the franchises.
Sarver released a statement following his one-year suspension and $10 million fine handed down from the NBA after an independent investigation that found Sarver violated many workplace standards.
Current and former players reacted to the news that Sarver will be selling the squads:
Mercury guard Diamond DeShields –
Well that’s a start! https://t.co/1IVletVlhB
— Diamond DeShields (@diamonddoesit1) September 21, 2022
Former NBA player and Arizona Wildcat Richard Jefferson –
.@Rjeff24 reacts to Robert Sarver beginning the process of selling the Phoenix Suns and Mercury. pic.twitter.com/HC5HBhBmy7
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 21, 2022
Lakers’ LeBron James –
I’m so proud to be a part of a league committed to progress! https://t.co/c89Ad7AKZO
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 21, 2022
Former NBA player Jamal Crawford –
Had to happen! https://t.co/nzaQRUIq8Q
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) September 21, 2022
Media members joined in on the discussion as well:
Bally Sports Arizona’s Cindy Brunson –
So incredibly grateful to the brave individuals who went on the record, risking current and future employment, in the investigation of the #Mercury & #Suns majority owner. His documented repeated behavior over nearly 2 decades weren’t a series of mistakes, they were his CHOICES.
— Cindy Brunson (@CindyBrunsonAZ) September 21, 2022
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne –
This is similar ending to how the Clippers/Donald Sterling saga unfolded, with Shelly Sterling pre-emptively selling the team to Steve Ballmer in a wild, quick, very public bidding process in 2014. https://t.co/MCVyXrF0sJ
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) September 21, 2022
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski –
The Suns are considered an extremely desirable franchise in the marketplace and will have no shortage of high-level ownership candidates. As a warm weather destination in West, league executives always believed this could be a monster free agent destination with right ownership.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 21, 2022
ESPN’s Baxter Holmes –
Even though Robert Sarver does not own the Phoenix Suns in full, sources told ESPN that Sarver has the authority, as the team's managing partner, to sell the team in full. Currently, Sarver owns about one-third of the team.
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) September 21, 2022
Sarver originally bought the franchises for $401 million in 2004.
He’s expected to sell at close to $2 billion.
