After NBA stars LeBron James and Chris Paul opened up on NBA franchise Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver's suspension, Suns Vice Chairman and minority owner Jahm Najafi on Thursday night called for the majority owner's resignation in an open letter to team employees.
The team's second-largest stakeholder, Jahm Najafi claimed that he is committed to " helping eradicate any form of racism, sexism and bias."
ESPN quoted Najafi as saying, "Similar conduct by any CEO, executive director, president, teacher, coach, or any other position of leadership would warrant immediate termination. The fact that Robert Sarver 'owns' the team does not give him a license to treat others differently than any other leader. The fact that anyone would find him fit to lead because of this 'ownership' position is forgetting that NBA teams belong to the communities they serve."
"I cannot in good judgment sit back and allow our children and future generations of fans to think that this behavior is tolerated because of wealth and privilege. Therefore, in accordance with my commitment to helping eradicate any form of racism, sexism and bias, as Vice Chairman of the Phoenix Suns, I am calling for the resignation of Robert Sarver," he added.
The NBA fined Robert Sarver for $10 million and a one-year suspension for "instances of inequitable conduct towards female employees"
Earlier on Tuesday, LA Lakers star LeBron James stated that " there is no place in this league for that kind of behavior" while Chris Paul, who is the point guard in Sarver-owned Suns, believed that the "sanctions felt short" over Sarver's "atrocious behaviour".