Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones and coach Monty Williams each offered their perspective on owner Robert Sarver’s decision to sell the team at the organization’s Media Day on Monday morning.
Jones said he was in agreement with Sarver’s choice and that “it brings some closure to a long period of discomfort.”
It brings some closure to a long period of discomfort and uneasiness. But it also gives us a pivot point to continue to focus on raising the standards of our organization and leading by example.
“I think when you look at the findings and just processing them, you realize that we just did not hold up to a standard of excellence. Those behaviors, not just in a sport, but in society in general, those are behaviors that are unacceptable. And we got to hold ourself to a higher standard and we got to protect those that can’t protect themselves. So our focus this year is to continue on the progress we’ve made as an organization to continue to live out our (inaudible) behaviors of respect, resiliency and support. And I’m just grateful that our players and everyone involved, we feel good about the outcome.”
Williams said there was “a bit of shock” about the findings and he was in disbelief. He said he and Jones have had conversations about positively affecting the organization for the future.
“You start to think about how these things happened…” Williams said. “‘How is it going to impact our team, the organization, the community?’ And James and myself and Morgan have had a ton of conversations about, ‘How do we handle this and deal with this in a way that’s productive but also sympathetic towards those who have been affected by all of this?’ So a number of emotions, but at the same time, you think about all the things. I have a white wife, my stepson is white and I have five Black children. Just thinking about them in a world where these kinds of things still happen and that bothered me. So I’m no different than you all. Just a range of emotions and states of mind that I dealt with.”
Author’s note: Bright Side of the Sun will continue to update this story with quotes from Jones and Williams. For accuracy purposes and sensitivity toward the situation, we may hold off adding quotes to this story if they are not heard with 100 percent clarity.