Robert Sarver to sell Suns and Mercury after racism and misogyny allegations

Robert Sarver has announced plans to sell his two Phoenix-based basketball teams, the NBA’s Suns and WNBA’s Mercury.

“I am beginning the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury,” Sarver said in a statement on Wednesday.

The decision came after Sarver was fined $10m and handed a one-year suspension by the NBA last week after an investigation into allegations of racism and misogyny during his time as the Suns owner. Many within the NBA, including prominent players such as LeBron James and Chris Paul, did not believe the punishment went far enough. “Our league definitely got this wrong,” wrote James on Twitter when the punishment was announced. “… I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership. But this isn’t right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place.”

PayPal, a sponsor of the Suns, as well as the team’s vice chairman, Jahm Najafi, also suggested Sarver should sell the team.

In his statement on Wednesday, Sarver appeared to suggest that he believes he has done enough to atone for any mistakes.

“As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness,” Sarver said. “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.”

Sarver’s troubles began last November, when an ESPN report, which was later corroborated by an NBA investigation, found