Robert Sarver

In 1984, Sarver founded the National Bank of Tucson (which he expanded statewide and changed the name to the National Bank of Arizona).[4] In 1994, he sold the National Bank of Arizona, then the largest independent bank in the state, to Zions Bancorporation.[4] In 1995, he acquired Grossmont Bank, one of San Diego's largest community banks. Grossmont was also sold to Zions Bancorporation in 1997.[5] In 1998, Sarver led Zions Bancorporation's acquisition of Sumitomo Bank of California.[4] In 2003, he became chairman of Western Alliance Bancorporation.[4][6]

In 1990, Sarver co-founded the real estate company Southwest Value Partners with Millard Seldin.[4] In 1995, Southwest Value Partners purchased the Emerald Plaza in San Diego.[4] In 2004, his jointly owned real estate firm, Southwest Value Partners, sold the Emerald Plaza and two other San Diego office buildings to Santa Ana real estate firm, Triple Net Properties, for $274.5 million.[7]

A lifelong sports fan, Sarver's quest to purchase an NBA team began with a conversation with University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson. Olson referred Sarver to Steve Kerr, a former player at Arizona and a 15-year NBA veteran, to assist him in buying an NBA franchise. In 2004, he purchased the Phoenix Suns for a then-record $401 million.[4]

Since purchasing the team, Sarver has overseen massive organizational developments. In 2020, Sarver and the Suns collaborated with Verizon on a state of the art, 53,000-square foot practice arena called the Verizon 5G Performance Center.[8] The $45 million facility uses 5G technology to merge computer-aided motion analysis, player and ball tracking, and shot tracking to provide precise information to players and coaches.[9] This revolutionary technology is being used by both the Suns and the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA to push the limits of sports science. In 2021, Sarver and the Suns oversaw a $230 million renovation and expansion of Footprint Center, formerly known as Talking Stick Arena.[10] The renovations include ultra-modern amenities, premium seating options, themed bars, new suites, and additional social spaces. On top of the physical changes to the arena, there has been an overhaul to the game presentation including enhancements to sound lighting and video systems.[11] The modernization also included significant changes to the arena's infrastructure, creating one of the greenest stadiums is American sports.[12]

For the first time since 1993, the Suns reached the NBA Finals. Despite strong play from their young core, the Suns eventually lost to the Bucks 4–2. Though overlooked as potential championship contenders at the start of the season, the Suns, built by Sarver, general manager James Jones, and coach Monty Williams, have quickly developed into one of the strongest organizations in the NBA.[13]

Sarver has had many controversies as the owner of the Suns. He has often been accused of being cheap as the Suns have gone to great lengths to avoid paying the luxury tax. He has given up young players and draft picks that included Luol Deng, Joe Johnson, and Rajon Rondo for cash considerations in order to save money. He also did not not offer a rookie extension to the 2018 first overall pick Deandre Ayton after he helped the Suns appear in the 2021 NBA Finals, their first since 1993.[14][15][16] He re-signed All-Star Chris Paul to a four-year $120 million contract in 2021, as well as re-sign Mikal Bridges to a four-year $90 million contract and Landry Shamet to a 4 year/ $43 million contract.[17][18][19] In 2018, Sarver and the Suns re-signed Devin Booker to a five-year $158.25 million contract.[20]

On November 4, 2021, Sarver and the Suns were the subject of a report written by Baxter Holmes on ESPN, which accused Sarver and members of the front-office of racism, misogyny, and sexual harassment, including allegedly requiring a coach to fire a minority agent and allegedly announce his preference for extra large condoms at a staff meeting .[21] The report was corroborated by over seventy former and current employees, players, and coaches of the Suns. Sarver and his legal team denied the vast majority of accusations and have pointed out that there are only a handful of sources on the record and, while the reporter may have reached out to 70 employees, the article provides no evidence that all of them spoke negatively of the organization.[22][23][24]  The Suns and Mercury organization under Sarver report some of the highest diversity in NBA front offices and basketball operations, with a record of hiring and promoting women, people of color, and people who identify as LGBT. The NBA further confirmed there have been no complaints made against the franchise to their anonymous tip line.[22] Sarver and the Suns have been on the record welcoming an NBA inquiry to clear up the allegations.[24][25][26][27]

Of the allegations, Sarver officially stated:

While there is so much that is inaccurate and misleading in this story that I hardly know where to begin, let me be clear: The n-word is not part of my vocabulary. I have never called anyone or any group of people the n-word, or referred to anyone or any group of people by that 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. The way I lead my personal and professional life makes that clear. ... [The] story is based on misrepresentations from former Suns coach Earl Watson and other unnamed "sources." Mr. Watson created an unprofessional and toxic atmosphere in our organization. He is clearly not a credible source. Despite hearing from witness after witness that disputed Mr. Watson's stories, [the story] completely disregarded the truth here. Now we are in the position of trying to disprove things that did not happen. At this point, I would entirely welcome an impartial NBA investigation which may prove our only outlet for clearing my name and the reputation of an organization of which I'm so very proud.[22][24]

Founded in 1997 by former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, Sarver purchased the WNBA team alongside the Phoenix Suns in 2004.[28]  One of the original eight franchises created at the founding of the WNBA for the inaugural 1997 season, the Phoenix Mercury are one of only three remaining in the current 12-team league to this day (along with the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks).[29] Of the twelve current WNBA teams, only five share the same majority owner as their NBA counterpart (Indiana Fever, Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, and Washington Mystics).[30] Under Sarver's ownership, the Mercury have won three WNBA championships (2007, 2009, 2014) and won conference titles four times, including during the 2020–2021 season (2007, 2009, 2014, 2021).[31][32]

During the Mercury's 2021 Cinderella finals run led by WNBA superstar Diana Taurasi, members of the Phoenix Suns team, especially team leaders Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton, showed their strong support to their sister team by attending finals home games, buying hundreds of tickets to share with fans and showing their love for the Mercury on social media.[33][34][35][36] In a particularly rare feat, both the Suns and the Mercury reached the finals in their respective leagues in the same calendar year (2021).[37] This accomplishment has only happened three times previously (New York Knicks/New York Liberty in 1999 and the Los Angeles Lakers/Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002).[38]

In January 2015, Sarver offered £20 million for control of Scottish football side Rangers Football Club, having a bid of £18 million turned down a few weeks earlier. The second offer was also rejected and Sarver ended his pursuit to buy Rangers.

In January 2016, Sarver bought football team RCD Mallorca, at the time in the Spanish second division, for €20 million.[39]

Sarver is on the board of trustees of the Sarver Heart Center (Tucson), which he helped build in memory of his late father, who was among the first in an experimental group to undergo bypass surgery. The Sarver Center is affiliated with the University of Arizona and houses over 40 physicians and researchers working on heart disease.[40]

Phoenix Suns Charities and the Phoenix Suns Social Responsibility Department are committed to improving the quality of life for all in our community and inspiring philanthropic culture through the Phoenix region. The Phoenix Suns accomplish this through community engagement that focuses on three pillars, Education & Career Development, Basketball & Recreation and Healthcare.[41] Under Sarver’s leadership, Phoenix Suns Charities has granted more than $20 million to Arizona non-profits. To celebrate the Suns' 50th season in 2017–18, Sarver and the Phoenix Suns Charities Board of Directors completed a $1 million project to renovate 50 basketball courts throughout Arizona.[42]

During the 2012 NBA All-Star Game weekend, Sarver heard in an owners meeting about dropout rates in high schools around the country, including Central High in Phoenix.[43][44] Sarver spearheaded a successful program called Suns Central, through which the team's adoption of a Phoenix high school has dramatically increased the graduation rate from 68 percent to 83 percent.[42]

Under Sarver's tenure, the Suns and Mercury organizations have a record of some of the strongest diversity practices in the NBA, with a history of hiring and supporting the career progression of minorities, women, and those who identify as LGBT.[45][46] Over the past 18 years, approximately half of general managers and coaches that worked at the Suns have been minorities.[47] Suns/Mercury have 800 total employees, of which 62% are male and 38% female; 51% are white, 18% African-American, Hispanic 23%, employees who identify with two or more races 3%, Native American 2%, Asian 2%, and 1% non-specified.[48]

In response to a 2010 Arizona Senate bill called the "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act",colloquially known as SB-1070, which would make it a state misdemeanor crime for an undocumented person to be in Arizona and obligate police to make an attempt when practicable during a stop, detention or arrest to determine a person's immigration status, the Phoenix Suns adopted special "Los Suns" jerseys on Cinco De Mayo. Sarver also released a scathing rebuke of the law:[49][50][51]

... [T]he result of passing this law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question, and Arizona's already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them... I looked around our plane and looked at our players and the diversity in our organization. I thought we need to go on record that we honor our diversity in our team, in the NBA and we need to show support for that. As for the political part of that, that's my statement. There are times you need to stand up and be heard. I respect people's views on the other side but I just felt it was appropriate for me to stand up and make a statement.[52][51]

Launched in October 2020 by the National Police Foundation, the Council on Policing Reforms and Race is a majority African American-led nonpartisan initiative that uses research and evidence to consider and offer recommendations to resolve some of the most significant and pressing issues with regard to policing reforms and race. Sarver is one of 17 founding and active members of the council.[53][54]