LeBron James calls out NBA over Robert Sarver

LeBron James: Read through the Sarver 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. I said it before and I’m gonna say it again, there is …

LeBron James: Read through the Sarver 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. I said it before and I’m gonna say it again, there is no place in this league for that kind of

Source: Twitter @KingJames

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
NBA commissioner Adam Silver explains why Suns owner Robert Sarver received only a one-year ban
cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-c…7:41 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
He didn’t mean it? NBA finds excuses for “inexcusable” behavior, with league’s double standard on full display with Robert Sarver suspension houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n… via @houstonchron – 7:11 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Story: As criticism mounts, NBA commissioner Adam Silver defends his punishment of Robert Sarver & vouches for embattled Suns owner @washingtonpost @PostSports washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/09…7:10 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
(Open those floodgates, LeBron) – 6:58 PM
LeBron James @KingJames
Read through the Sarver 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. I said it before and I’m gonna say it again, there is no place in this league for that kind of – 6:54 PM
NBA Math @NBA_Math
🗣NEW @HardwoodKnocks
📋 NBA ‘What If?!?’ Moments: Atlantic Division
—Robert Sarver (1:32)
—Celtics (16:47)
—Nets (19:16)
—Knicks (21:28)
—76ers (24:37)
—Raptors (26:33)
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📺 https://t.co/K9k8wlt8my pic.twitter.com/tyyKbKhuFH6:35 PM

Rob Mahoney @RobMahoney
Unpacked the league’s flimsy response to the Robert Sarver investigation with @Seerat Sohi: open.spotify.com/episode/5anJwt…6:31 PM
Marla Ridenour @MRidenourABJ
‘Full circle’: Donovan Mitchell, a lifelong LeBron fan, hopes to return #Cavs to glory days @spidamitchell @LouisvilleMBB @Utah Jazz beaconjournal.com/story/sports/p… via @beaconjournal6:27 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
New ESPN story: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he “doesn’t know how to measure” the punishment the league handed down to Robert Sarver in comparison to what would happen to any team or league employee. “There’s no neat answer here.” espn.com/nba/story/_/id…6:25 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
‘Very different’: #NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses Robert Sarver-Donald Sterling comparisons #Suns https://t.co/oJ27s9NPsy via @azcentral pic.twitter.com/Ntaegke7Qj6:18 PM

The Ringer @ringernba
What does the NBA’s punishment of Robert Sarver implicate for the future?
@Rob Mahoney and @Seerat Sohi examine the investigation: open.spotify.com/episode/5anJwt…6:13 PM
Kevin Pelton @kpelton
The big takeaway reiterated by Robert Sarver’s league-mandated discipline: If it’s going to be nearly impossible to remove an owner for misconduct, the approval process has to identify that potential before someone is allowed the “rights” of ownership. – 5:45 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
The year suspension began yesterday.
The process has begun to identify another team owner to act as “Interim Governor.”
So what’s next for Phoenix #Suns following conclusion of Robert Sarver investigation?
Any and everything is possible. azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral5:42 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Robert Sarver vs. Donald Sterling: Both #NBA owners behaved badly, so why was only one banned for life? (via @iam_DanaScott) #Suns #Clippers azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral5:35 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
I’ll be on @ESPNLosAngeles with @John Ireland from 1-4pm PT. We’re talking Lakers, Westbrook, Dodgers, Adam Silver’s Robert Sarver presser, Rams, The Golden Girls and more. Listen up! AK – 4:23 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
What was the difference in how NBA punished Donald Sterling and Robert Sarver?
Adam Silver: “It’s not strong enough. It’s beyond the pale in every possible way to use language and behave that way but that was wholly of a different content than what we saw in that earlier case.” pic.twitter.com/i1XZtwrY354:20 PM

Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Adam Silver said his punishment for Robert Sarver was based in part on mitigating information he was privy to from investigation that he said offered him context. “What I have access to is a bit different than the public,” he said, because investigators offered confidentiality. pic.twitter.com/TJ9YD1ICpX4:02 PM

Casey Holdahl @CHold
LeBron and Peja’s kids teaming up in Eugene? news.scorebooklive.com/recruiting/202…3:48 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Adam Silver said neither he nor anyone in NBA knew about Robert Sarver’s behavior before @Baxter Holmes report. Investigation found Sarver sent an email to league office in 2016 using the N-word. Silver said that was in “context…he was reporting about particular behavior of a player.” – 3:48 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Commissioner Adam Silver spoke Wednesday about the NBA’s punishment of Suns owner Robert Sarver.
“I was in disbelief to a certain extent about what I learned that had transpired over the last 18 years in the Suns organization.” pic.twitter.com/SfXrxtBG4s3:31 PM

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Adam Silver said he had the option to punish Robert Sarver longer, but believed one year was appropriate. Silver said Sarver’s “level of remorse, at least expressed to me, was taking complete accountability and seemed fully remorseful.” – 3:29 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Adam Silver said the NBA did not know about Robert Sarver’s behavior before ESPN’s article. Said it had not been reported to them prior to that point – 3:29 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Adam Silver confirms he had the option to give Robert Sarver a longer suspension. On Sarver’s statement yesterday, Silver said Sarver took “full accountability” and is “remorseful.” – 3:27 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
“There’s no question, he’s on notice. He knows that.” – Adam Silver on whether he believes Robert Sarver will actually change his behavior during his suspension.
Adds that most of those incidents were in the past – 3:27 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Adam Silver said he had the option to go longer than a one-year suspension for Robert Sarver but landed on that length, noting it’s the second-longest suspension in NBA history.
As for his remorse, Silver said Sarver was taking “complete accountability” and seemed remorseful – 3:26 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
That time LeBron thought Austin Rivers wanted to fight 😅😭 pic.twitter.com/9nCUKs8YEz3:20 PM

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Adam Silver maintained that Robert Sarver has “evolved” and that the documented incidents of racism & sexism happened much earlier in his tenure. – 3:16 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Reporters in New York are asking very good questions to Adam Silver about the Robert Sarver investigation and punishment. – 3:13 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Adam Silver says that at no point during this process did he discuss with Robert Sarver the possibility of him voluntarily choosing to sell the Phoenix Suns. – 3:13 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
When asked if he believes that Robert Sarver had no race or gender based animus, as the investigative report found, Adam Silver says: “I accept their work.” – 3:10 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Adam Silver more on Robert Sarver’s ruling: “I don’t have the right to take away his team.” Silver added “there’s a legal process in taking away someone’s team” and didn’t feel there was enough in the case to pursue that. – 3:10 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
In being asked why Robert Sarver was treated differently than any employee of the NBA or a team, Silver says he believes the consequences are “severe” for Robert Sarver in this situation.
“There is no neat answer here.” – 3:08 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Adam Silver said “there are particular rights here to someone who owns an NBA team as opposed to someone who is an employee,” when explaining why Robert Sarver can keep his NBA team while an employee who did what he did would be fired.
“It’s different than holding a job.” – 3:07 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Pressed on why Robert Sarver wouldn’t be fired when any of us would be for doing many of the things Sarver did, Adam Silver said, “There are particular rights here of someone who owns an NBA team compared to an employee.”
“I don’t have the right to take away his team.” – 3:07 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Adam Silver says the difference between the Robert Sarver punishment and with Donald Sterling is “the context” with the privileged information he has that was not in the report and with Sterling’s incident being fully public. – 3:04 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Adam Silver on Robert Sarver’s case vs Donald Sterling: “There was a realism to it that you have audio. It puts everyone in the same position I was in. We were all looking at the same record. This case is very different.” – 3:02 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, sounding somewhat defensive, describes Robert Sarver’s behavior as “indefensible” and “inexcusable” but cites “totality” of information, including some he has that is not public that brings nuance for choosing the punishment announced yesterday. – 3:02 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Asked about the difference between Robert Sarver and Donald Sterling situations, Adam Silver points to the nature of Sterling’s recording, how quickly it disseminated and and the “realism of the audio” once everyone heard it. With Sarver, he said he’s acknowledged his behavior – 3:02 PM
Jeff Zillgitt @JeffZillgitt
NBA commissioner Adam Silver (paraphrasing) on Robert Sarver: Said he’s in disbelief, disheartened and apologized to Suns employees. Absolutely no excuse for it. Called conduct indefensible but thought he was dealt with in fair manner. – 3:00 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stands by punishment for Suns owner Robert Sarver: “The conduct is indefensible but I feel like we dealt with it in a fair manner.” – 2:58 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Adam Silver on Robert Sarver’s punishment: “The conduct is indefensible, but I feel we dealt with it in a fair manner.” – 2:58 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Adam Silver on the Robert Sarver investigation: “Disbelief to a certain extent, saddened…No excuse for it. We addressed it.” – 2:57 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver holding the Board of Governors press conference, which surely will include questions about the Phoenix Suns & Robert Sarver on.nba.com/3BdYulz2:57 PM
Howard Beck @HowardBeck
“I was in disbelief to a certain extent about what I learned. … I was saddened by it. … the conduct is indefensible.” — Adam Silver, re Robert Sarver. – 2:57 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
At the Board of Governors press conference, NBA commissioner Adam Silver says “From a personal standpoint, I was in disbelief to a certain extent about what I learned” about the situation with the Suns and owner Robert Sarver – 2:57 PM
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Adam Silver says he was in disbelief, saddened and disheartened by the Robert Sarver investigation findings. – 2:56 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
NBA ownership feels like Congress. You don’t bring Robert Sarver keeping his team to a vote unless you KNOW you have 2/3’s support. Seems wise to assume NBA owners don’t want to set that standard. So, Sarver will stay. sports.yahoo.com/robert-sarvers…10:46 AM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
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BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Stephen Curry is set to sign a lifetime contract with Under Armour 💰
The deal should be in a similar range to the one LeBron James has signed with Nike:
basketnews.com/news-177941-st…2:12 AM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
NBA’s slap on the wrist for Suns owner Robert Sarver is a slap in the face for employees who came forward – https://t.co/0xT3o45P1Q via @PHNX_Suns pic.twitter.com/uVTBnrkP9f12:25 AM

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
What should we make of the NBA’s ruling on Suns owner Robert Sarver? I break that down & more with @howaboutafresca & @SwollenDome on @FoxSportsRadio. Tune in at 9:20 pm PT ihr.fm/2IBN81n12:09 AM
The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA
Robert Sarver has no business being in the NBA but for his financial stake in it.
From @Ben Rohrbach ➡️ https://t.co/3SYHkSsWFu pic.twitter.com/QQ2PxUR4Pm11:00 PM

Rob Mahoney @RobMahoney
The NBA still has a Robert Sarver problem: theringer.com/nba/2022/9/13/…9:03 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Robert Sarver investigation posts:
Sarver gets year suspension, $10M fine https://t.co/l4KSt9iWnk
Sarver disagrees with ‘some of the particulars’ https://t.co/9jy0M4CEXx
Rev. Sharpton calls for owners to oust Sarver https://t.co/ZaIJn91Aia
Sterling 2.0 https://t.co/CreFLHOjsR pic.twitter.com/IDQzStZNLH8:25 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
2nd day of PTOs this wk:
4-mile morning run.
Breakfast.
#NBA announces results of #Suns owner Robert Sarver investigation.
Wrote 4 stories.
Interview with NBC News Now about investigation.
Game plan for tomorrow.
Up next:.Order pizza, put feet up, watch Marshall-ND replay pic.twitter.com/J8brhmEbFe8:19 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
On today’s Robert Sarver news, the NBA’s ugly message to those who came forward, and how unfair it is for the onus to be on everyone else to hold him accountable: bit.ly/3RHp0uJ8:02 PM
LeBron James @KingJames
🤴🏾👸🏾🤴🏾🤴🏾👸🏾 James Gang at home!!! @VanityFair 📸🤎 https://t.co/rlPEYiCTLJ pic.twitter.com/kA89DHV8sx5:35 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Definitely looking forward to this! The Redeem Team doc poster is on point. Something I’d have on my wall back in the day. Kobe, Melo, LeBron, D-Wade, and Coach K. Bound to be a must-see doc for any basketball fan. pic.twitter.com/X3fIWrlCul5:33 PM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Lakers’ Austin Reaves sits down with @Stadium: “I definitely don’t pass the eye test and I’m not the most athletic in the world, but I’ve figured it out so far.” On goal of starting role in 2022-23, LeBron and Kobe, believing he’s the best golfer in the NBA, and more. pic.twitter.com/KplZQt7WYS11:55 AM

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