NBA Players Association calls for Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver to be handed a LIFETIME ban

NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio has called for Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver to be banned for life.

Sarver was recently given a one-year suspension and a $10 million fine by the association for racist and misogynistic comments. 

Tremaglio said in an interview on ESPN’s NBA Today she was speaking on behalf of NBA players in saying they were ‘absolutely calling for’ a lifetime ban.

On Thursday, Suns minority owner Jahm Najafi called on Sarver to resign as owner. Earlier Friday, Phoenix’s jersey sponsor – PayPal – said they would not continue to sponsor the Suns if Sarver returned.

The punishment stems from an NBA investigation into allegations of racist & misogynistic remarks, leading the league’s players association to call for Sarver being banned for life

‘We do not want him to be in a position where he is managing or engaging with individuals who are engaging with our players or the players themselves,’ Tremaglio said in the interview

‘We are absolutely clear from the findings that are in the report that we do not want him to be in that position.’

On Tuesday, the NBA released its findings from a 10-month investigation into multiple allegations of abuse while Sarver was managing partner of the Suns. An ESPN story from November of last year detailed multiple allegations of racism and misogyny over 17 years of ownership under Sarver.

‘It is our players’ desire that while we understand that there has been a thorough investigation and while we’re very pleased that the NBA was able to follow through on that — because that’s clearly something that we want to see happen — we also want to make it very clear that we do not want him to be back in a position where he will be impacting our players and those who serve our players on a daily basis,’ Tremaglio said.

While she has expressed her opinion to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Tremaglio has said she isn’t sure if the league will change its mind on the punishment. Moreover, it’s unclear if the NBA will hand down a punishment forcing Sarver to sell the Suns – or the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA – as they did when they forced out Clippers owner Donald Sterling in 2014.  

PayPal CEO Dan Schulman said his company wouldn’t sponsor the Suns if Sarver returns

‘I don’t know how open [Silver] is in terms of wanting to make the change,’ Tremaglio said. 

‘I think it is our hope that it will be very clear that Mr. Sarver should not be able to be in a position to come back and be in a managerial position. 

‘We’ve heard from other owners. We’ve heard from sponsors, etc. I think it’s pretty clear that there’s no expectation from him returning.’

That reference to sponsors comes after PayPal CEO Dan Schulman said they found Sarver’s conduct, ‘unacceptable and in conflict with our values.’ Additionally, Schulman said that the company would ‘not renew our sponsorship should Robert Sarver remain involved with the Suns organization after serving his suspension.’

Tremaglio added that discussions of boycotting games have not yet taken place, but made it clear the players are ‘incredibly upset about what has occurred.’ 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has previously banned owner for life from the league