Suns minority owner calls for Robert Sarver's resignation

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Suns minority owner Jahm Najafi: 'I am calling for the resignation of Robert Sarver'

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 9/15/22

Earlier this week , the NBA suspended Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver and fined him $10 million after an investigation revealed several instances of inappropriate conduct.

Just a few days removed from the announcement, the NBA and Sarver are still feeling the wrath of those who think the punishment was too lenient.

On Thursday, Suns minority owner Jahm Najafi called for Sarver's resignation.

Phoenix Suns minority owner Jahm Najafi, who owns the second-largest stake in the team behind majority owner Robert Sarver, just released a statement.

In it, Najafi writes, in part:

"I am calling for the resignation of Robert Sarver."
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) September 16, 2022

Najafi owns the second-largest stake in the Suns behind only Sarver, the majority owner.

Najafi is the latest to speak out against Sarver. On Wednesday, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James blasted the NBA for their decision, saying, "Our league definitely got this wrong."

Suns' employees state that Sarver used the N-word and made inappropriate sex-related comments toward females working for the Suns. Former Suns employee Melissa Fender Panagiotakopoulos described a toxic culture throughout the organization in a letter to management before resigning.

Despite the blowback from many, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he believed the league arrived at its decision to discipline Sarver in a "fair manner."

"In terms of future behavior, he's on notice," Silver said.

More must-reads: