What to Know About the New NBA Season

Though the investigators enumerated many examples of Sarver’s use of racial slurs and mistreatment of women, they said there was “no finding that Sarver’s conduct was motivated by racial or gender-based animus.” Silver stood by the report when asked about that finding.

Some of the league’s top players, including Lakers forward LeBron James and Suns guard Chris Paul, criticized Silver as being too lenient on Sarver. Eventually, it wasn’t the league and its team owners who pushed Sarver out: Sarver said he would sell the Phoenix basketball franchises amid pressure from players, fans and sponsors like PayPal, which said it would discontinue its partnership with the Suns if Sarver returned after his suspension.

“I’m not sure there was enough on the grounds to merit him removing Robert Sarver as an owner,” Williams said, referring to Silver, “but I think the league has always been a player-driven league and their voices, when speaking up, can force and create change, which is the difference I see between the N.B.A. and the N.F.L.”

Celtics Coach Ime Udoka’s suspension is a mystery.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/18/sports/basketball/nba-season-preview.html