With Robert Sarver announcing his intentions Wednesday to sell the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, some eyes in the sports world return to Washington and embattled Commanders owner Dan Snyder.
Last week, the NBA released its findings on Sarver after a year-long investigation into workplace misconduct and inappropriate behavior. Along with the published report, the NBA fined Sarver $10 million and suspended him for a year. A week later, after pressure from inside and outside the Suns organization, Sarver committed to selling both the Suns and the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.
"As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness," Sarver wrote in a statement Wednesday. "I expected that the commissioner's one-year suspension would provide the time for me to focus, make amends and remove my personal controversy from the teams that I and so many fans love.
"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."
Pressure mounted on Sarver from his minority owner and sponsors to sell the team. Jahm Najafi, the team's second-largest stakeholder, called for Sarver's resignation. PayPal said it wouldn't renew as a team sponsor if Sarver stayed.
While Snyder has faced pressure from Congress and dealt with an unhappy fanbase, one source noted that the unique pressures Sarver faced aren't in front of Snyder. Earlier this year, Snyder bought out his minority owners and owns 100% of the Commanders.