Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver has announced his intention to sell the franchise along with WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
Last week, Sarver was fined $10 million - approximately £8.7m - and suspended from the sport for a year after the league investigated allegations of racism and misogyny against him. While the league did find evidence of 'racially insensitive language, unequal treatment of female employees and sex-related statements and conduct' they didn't find that his conduct was 'motivated by racial or gender-based animus'.
NBA stars LeBron James and Chris Paul were among those outraged at the severity - or lack thereof - of the sanctions. Sarver - who is reportedly worth $800m (£696m) - received a punishment that was less severe than that of Donald Sterling. After he was recorded making a number of racist comments, Sterling was banned from the NBA for life and forced to sell the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014.
