The Phoenix Suns are truly in a new era under owner Mat Ishbia. The newest owner in the NBA made a statement move to acquire Kevin Durant and pair him up with their 3 stars Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton.
The excitement around the new Suns has made people forget about the internal turmoil the franchise was facing under previous owner Robert Sarver, who was forced to sell the team after sponsors threatened to cut their association with the franchise due to inappropriate workplace behavior by Sarver.
Sarver sold his 37% stake in the franchise to Mat Ishbia for over $1.48 billion, with the new owner also buying 20% more from other investors to take his sole ownership stake up to 57% for $2.28 billion. However, Sarver decided to do one positive thing for the employees he left behind by giving nearly 300 eligible employees a bonus of $20,000 from his own pocket.
Suns employees were notified about the bonuses and Sarver’s donation to charity in an email from Ishbia on Thursday morning. Those who qualified for the $20,000 bonus, which they’d receive in their next paycheck, were full-time employees who started on or before Feb. 15, 2022. Between 250 and 300 employees will be impacted by the bonus, sources said. (h/t ESPN)
A Suns employee privately called the move classy, as Sarver also donated $5 million to the Suns’ charity. In total, Sarver is parting with almost $11 million to give back to members of the organization and the charity.
The New Phoenix Suns
Sarver’s generosity will be much appreciated by the receivers of the bonuses and the good the money could do for their charity. That doesn’t change the poor actions of Sarver in the past but does help his last deal with the franchise to be a move that actively benefits the employees that have served under him.
With Kevin Durant and positive work morale, the franchise has unlocked unlimited potential. Devin Booker is already proven to be a star in the league while KD joins him as an MVP. Chris Paul is one of the greatest point guards in league history and recently had a 19-assist game to emphasize that his regression isn’t as bad as many have said.
Deandre Ayton has had tough moments with the franchise over the last year, with the most recent being courtside alterations with coach Monty Williams. But he’s also excited about the acquisition of Durant and the team will look to deliver on their championship potential immediately.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
