The Suns have shot down a possible report that team owner Robert Sarver is about to be accused of racism, sexism and harassment, though no such report yet exists beyond a tweet from ESPN reporter Jordan Schultz.
“This story is completely outrageous and false,” Suns CEO and President Jason Rowley said in a statement released by the team. “It doesn’t represent — at all — the Robert Sarver I’ve worked alongside of for 15 years. He’s not a racist and he’s not a sexist.”
On Friday, Schultz tweeted that the “is preparing for a massive story accusing Suns owner Robert Sarver of racism, sexism and sexual harassment in a series of incidents, sources say. With enough evidence to support such claims, there’s a real chance the league would forcibly remove Sarver.”
The Suns strongly responded in a press release.
“We understand that an outlet is considering publishing a proposed story that makes completely baseless claims against the Suns Legacy Partners, LLC organization concerning a variety of topics,” the statement read. “Documentary evidence in our possession and eyewitness accounts directly contradict the reporter’s accusations, and we are preparing our response to his questions.
“We urge everyone not to rush to judgment here. Especially based on lies, innuendo, and a false narrative to attack our organization and its leadership.”
Sarver also issued a statement, as relayed by OutKick’s Meg Turner.
“I am wholly shocked by some of the allegations purported by ESPN about me, personally, or about the Phoenix Suns and Mercury organizations,” he said. “While I can’t begin to know how to respond to some of the vague suggestions made by mostly anonymous voices, I can certainly tell you that some of the claims I find completely repugnant to my nature and to the character of the Suns/Mercury workplace and I can tell you they never, ever happened.”
Phoenix point guard Chris Paul and coach Monty Williams addressed the matter briefly around Friday’s win over the Lakers.
“We control what we can control,” Paul told reporters, via Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.
Williams told reporters after the game that the Suns are focused on basketball one year after a run to the Finals.
“I’m not going to comment about it until I have time to process a lot of information and get everything I need to know about the situation, but I’m good,” he said. “Don’t ever worry about me. Our team is good. Our guys get to hoop.”
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