The L.A. Lakers star criticizes Robert's one-year suspension and $10 million fine after a 10-month NBA investigation found he violated common workplace standards.
- Sep 16, 2022
AceShowbiz - LeBron James doesn't think Robert Sarver gets the punishment that he deserves. Making use of his social media account, the Los Angeles Lakers star criticized Robert's one-year suspension and $10 million fine after a 10-month NBA investigation found he violated common workplace standards.
Criticizing NBA, LeBron wrote on Twitter on Wednesday night, September 14, "Read through the Robert stories a few times now. I gotta be honest…Our league definitely got this wrong. I don't need to explain why. Y'all read the stories and decide for yourself."
He continued, "I said it before and I'm gonna say it again, there is no place in this league for that kind of behavior. I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership. But this isn't right." He added, "There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place. Don't matter if you own the team or play for the team. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this aint it."
Also weighing in on the matter was Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul. In a series of tweets, he shared that he was "horrified and disappointed" by the report. "This conduct especially towards women is unacceptable and must never be repeated," Paul tweeted. "I am of the view that the sanctions fell short in truly addressing what we can all agree was atrocious behavior. My heart goes out to all of the people that were affected."
LeBron and Chris' tweets arrived after NBA announced on Tuesday that it handed a one-year suspension and $10 million fine to the owner of the Phoenix Suns and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. He was found violating common workplace standards with the misconduct including "the use of racially insensitive language; unequal treatment of female employees; sex-related statements and conduct; and harsh treatment of employees that on occasion constituted bullying."
An independent investigation conducted by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz law firm found that Robert used the N-word on at least five occasions, mostly recently in 2017, while recounting what someone else said. He allegedly told a pregnant employee she would be unable to do her job upon becoming a mother in addition to making comments about women crying too much.
The investigation also found that he "engaged in instances of inequitable conduct toward female employees, made many sex-related comments in the workplace, made inappropriate comments about the physical appearance of female employees and other women, and on several occasions, engaged in inappropriate physical conduct toward male employees."
Robert, meanwhile, took "full responsibility" for his actions. "Good leadership requires accountability. For the Suns and Mercury organizations, that begins with me," he said in a statement. "While I disagree with some of the particulars of the NBA's report, I would like to apologize for my words and actions that offended our employees. I take full responsibility for what I have done. I am sorry for causing this pain, and these errors in judgment are not consistent with my personal philosophy or my values."
