Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver investigation in 'sort of last stage,' says NBA commissioner Adam Silver

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Phoenix Suns team owner Robert Sarver's investigation is near completion during a press conference Tuesday after a meeting with the league’s Board of Governors in Las Vegas.

“I’m not prepared to talk about what the conclusion might be, only to say that we are at the sort of last stage of the investigation,” Silver said.

Sarver has been under investigation since November of 2021 after an ESPN report detailed allegations of racism and misogyny against Sarver, claiming he created a "toxic" work environment within the Suns' organization.

Silver was asked Tuesday why the investigation has taken nearly a year.

MORE: Phoenix Suns' employee resigned over alleged 'bullying' after sharing 'gender equity' concerns

“I can only say that we are talking about almost an 18-year period that the ESPN article covered in terms of his ownership,” Silver said. “Hundreds of current and former employees that were involved over that period. And also ensuring that everyone’s confidentiality, if they asked for it, is met, and ensuring due process is provided to Mr. Sarver as well.”

Sarver openly welcomed an investigation that Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, a law firm out of New York, has been conducting.

“So these things, I understand how outsiders can be frustrated and say why do these things take so long,” Silver continued. “But having been involved with many of them, these kinds of big investigations over my time at the league, the most important thing is to get it right and to take the appropriate amount of time to do so.”

Sarver was in Las Vegas for the meeting with the rest of the Board of Governors.

“They are all here,” Silver said. “We had a Competition Committee meeting in town. We are having a meeting with our team presidents (Wednesday). Our NBA officials are here training. The trainers are here training. Virtually every constituent group around the league uses this opportunity in Las Vegas to meet and learn from each other.”

Sarver was recently with Devin Booker when the three-time All-Star signed his supermax extension for four years, $224 million with the Suns.

The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas concludes Sunday.

"It’s quite remarkable what this has turned into. I’m told that we will have an economic impact on Las Vegas of roughly $125 million, that we will fill 70,000 hotel rooms over the course of the time that we’re here and that we will sell approximately 135,000 tickets," Silver said.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Robert Sarver investigation in 'last stage,' says NBA commissioner