Robert Sarver is a very wealthy man who has gotten away with what ever he has wanted for a very long time. In an investigation by the NBA that has gone on for almost a year, they have found he has made sexist and racist comments in his own workplace, apparently NOT in or around the NBA or WNBA franchises that he is involved with (at least that’s the way it sounded in a few articles I read).
When confronted by the NBA about these discoveries he was rather flippant about it instead of apologetic. An example, the NBA said “hey man you’re out here using the N work you can’t be doing that,” and he fired back “I’m only repeating what other people said.” IMO he kinda backed the NBA into the corner where they had to do something. They did, and fined him $10 million and banned him from the NBA and WNBA for a year. He is pissed. Many wonder if he’ll be so pissed as to sell his share of the teams, but guys like that want to be in the spotlight and you can’t be there if you sell your shares.
Let’s face it, it’s 2022 and there’s a lot of shit you just can’t say in the workplace today that you could get away with a decade ago even though it was wrong then as it is today. Because he’s so powerful he’s pretty arrogant to think it’s okay for someone in his position to do that. LeBron and several other players (including well respected Chris Paul of the Suns) voiced their displeasure in the verdict and think it should be more severe.
I think the NBA didn’t want another Don Sterling situation to unfold. Don was a special kind of idiot and doubled down on his long history of racist remarks when confronted by the NBA, he left them with no other choice.
Right or wrong I agree LeBron is usually quick to make a statement on just about any issue he thinks he needs to be a part of and a lot of times he fails miserably when he makes a “statement.”
As for the punishment of Robert Sarver, I have no idea what would be fair, what I’ve read so far hasn’t shed much light on the situation for me. Look ar Dan Snyder of the Commanders, he’s been accused of a ton of misconduct and little to nothing has happened to him.