Who is Robert Sarver, the suspended Phoenix Suns owner?
Father Bob #FatherBob
Robert Sarver, center, has not been well-liked in Phoenix. Photo: Ralph Freso/Associated Press
Robert Sarver, a banker and Arizona native, bought the Phoenix Suns in 2004 for $401 million — an NBA record at the time.
Early life: Sarver was raised in Tucson and started working for his father’s company American Savings and Loans at 16.
Of note: Sarver retired from Western Alliance in June after the company cited him as a publicity risk because of the NBA investigation, The Arizona Republic reported.
Buying the Suns: Legendary UofA basketball coach Lute Olson, a longtime friend of Sarver’s, helped facilitate his pursuit of the Suns by connecting him with former UofA basketball player Steve Kerr.
State of play: Even before this investigation, Sarver was not well-liked in Phoenix.
1 funny thing: Sarver’s lack of public support came to a head in late 2018 when the team asked the city of Phoenix to spend $150 million of taxpayer money on arena renovations.
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