LeBron James detailed his frustration with the NBA’s penalty of Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, wrote “our league definitely made this mistake” in a series of social media posts Wednesday.
Sarver was banned from the NBA for a year and fined $10 million after the league on Tuesday released the results of a 10-month independent investigation into allegations of workplace abuse during his tenure. of Sarver as a managing partner of Suns spanning nearly two decades.
behavior. I love this tournament and I have so much respect for our leadership. But this is not true. There is no place for alienation, sexism and racism in any workplace. It doesn’t matter whether you own the team or play for the team. We see our league as an example of our values and this evokes it.
– LeBron James (@KingJames) September 14, 2022
Protect the sun spot Chris Paulwho also served two terms as president of the National Basketball Players Association, expressed a similar view as James, writing, “I think sanctions don’t really solve what’s going on. We can all agree is atrocities.”
I am of the opinion that sanctions have not really addressed what we can all agree on as atrocity. My heart goes out to all those affected.
– Chris Paul (@ CP3) September 15, 2022
Earlier on Wednesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver conducted a press conference in New York following the league’s board of governors meeting and addressed the concerns he had received from the player base, nearly 75 % is black.
Among the accusations first reported by ESPN last November and corroborated by an investigation conducted by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Sarver made at least five repetitions of the N-word when recounting the accounts of others.
“I spoke to a number of players,” Silver said on Wednesday. “Those are private conversations. I’ll let the players speak directly how they feel.”
Silver went on to describe his conversations with the players as “not morale” because, he said, “I think, showing those players that we continue to address these issues.”
Late Wednesday, Tamika Tremaglio, chief executive officer of the NBPA, released a statement, saying “Sarver’s reported actions and conduct are appalling and have no place in our sport.” or any workplace for that matter.”
Tremaglio added that she has “letted Adam Silver my opinion on my thoughts on the level of punishment, and strongly believes that Mr Sarver will never hold a managerial position in our league.” again.”
James’ statement echoes his stance from 2014 when the federation was investigating alleged racist misconduct ever since. LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
“There’s no place for Donald Sterling in the NBA – there’s no place for him,” James said before Miami Heat playoffs against Charlotte. “…They have to stand their ground. They have to be very aggressive with it. I don’t know how it will be, but we can’t have that in our league.”
James has spent the second half of his NBA career, entering his 20th season this fall, as an overt campaigner for social change.
Silver said from a personal standpoint he was “distrustful” when informed of Sarver’s violation, but many of the players and coaches in the league he spoke with found the situation too familiar.
“Look, I think it’s no secret that this is a league where about 80 percent of our players are black. More than half of our coaches are black,” Silver said. “I’m going to say that none of them can be as shocked as I am, living their lives, that I don’t think they’re reading this, oh, my God, I can’t believe this is happening. out.”
