Weekly Kibbitz
Jewish NBA, WNBA Owner
Cites ‘Faith’ and ‘Atonement’ in
Announcing Decision to Sell Teams
Robert Sarver, the Jewish owner of
the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s
Phoenix Mercury, announced on
Sept. 21 that he will seek buyers for
the two franchises as he serves his
one-year suspension for misconduct.

Sarver, a real estate businessman
with a net worth of nearly $1 bil-
lion who bought the teams in 2004,
received the NBA’s maximum fine
of $10 million after an investigation
found a pattern of inappropriate
and abusive behavior, including rac-
ist remarks and sexual harassment
toward employees. Sarver report-
edly used the N-word multiple times.

“As a man of faith, I believe in
atonement and the path to forgive-
ness,” said Sarver, according to
ESPN. “I expected that the commis-
sioner’s one-year suspension would
provide the time for me to focus,
make amends and remove my per-
sonal controversy from the teams
that I and so many fans love.”
The 60-year-old Tucson native,
who is a member of the Reform
synagogue Temple Chai in Phoenix,
appeared to be referencing teshu-
vah, the Jewish idea of repentance
that is a thematic centerpiece of the
upcoming High Holidays.

Sarver told the Arizona Jewish
Post in 2011 that he has served on the
board of and held fundraising roles
at the Jewish Federation of Southern
Arizona and its Desert Caucus polit-
ical action committee, and has been
involved with the Tuscon Jewish
Community Center and Jewish
Family & Children Services.

Sarver further explained his deci-
sion to sell his two basketball fran-
chises: “But in our current unforgiving
climate, it has become painfully clear
that that is no longer possible — that
whatever good I have done, or could
still do, is outweighed by things I have
said in the past. For those reasons, I
am beginning the process of seeking
buyers for the Suns and Mercury.”
Immediately after Sarver’s suspen-
sion was announced last week, sev-
eral NBA stars, including the Suns’
Chris Paul, criticized the league for
what the players deemed an inade-
quate punishment. Some called for
Sarver to sell the team or to face a
lifetime ban.

Sarver’s suspension echoed that
of Washington Commanders owner
Dan Snyder and former Los Angeles
Clippers owner Donald Sterling, both
of whom also happen to be Jewish
and who similarly were accused of
using their positions of power to
mistreat their employees.

Jacob Gurvis | JTA
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