Seth Udinski, FISM News
In the wake of reports of toxicity in the NFL’s Washington Football Team, it appears the NBA is also not immune to unhealthy workplace environments.
The league announced that it would be opening an investigation into Phoenix Suns team president Robert Sarver in response to an ESPN investigative report. On Thursday, ESPN released a report that they say details a toxic work environment that included racist language and hostility towards employees within the organization. Further reports indicate the Sarver also acted in a misogynistic way towards his employees. On one occasion, he apparently flaunted a picture his wife in a bikini to male coworkers.
The investigative reporters interviewed 70 current and former Suns employees and concluded that the negative environment was initiated and emboldened by Sarver. In a statement, NBA executive vice president of communications Mike Bass said that they have hired a law firm to do a “comprehensive investigation” into the “extremely serious” allegations.
Sarver has denied the allegations and says he welcomes an impartial investigation. In response to allegations he used the N-word on multiple occasions, he said:
I’ve never called anyone or any group of people the N-word, or referred to anyone or any group of people by the N-word, either verbally or in writing. I don’t use that word. It is abhorrent and ugly and denigrating and against everything I believe in.