Hot Suns burnish image of controversial owner
Global warming has been detected on Planet Orange, triggered by Valley fans who are beginning to embrace Robert Sarver.
The change in temperature is astounding.
“When the team does better, fans look at ownership in a better view,” said Sarver, Suns majority owner. “And right now, we have a lot of good, young pieces in place.”
Sarver brushes off talk of his image makeover. But it’s happening. He handpicked the right general manager and hired the perfect coach, Jeff Hornacek. He gave guard Eric Bledsoe a $70 million contract, proving he’d rather get clobbered in negotiations than lose a very important player.
And with three minutes remaining in an
Oct. 16 exhibition game against the San Antonio Spurs, Sarver took the microphone at US Airways Center and apologized for the dearth of competition and entertainment in a blowout victory. He offered fans in attendance a credit for food or merchandise.
In effect, Sarver was taking a shot at the reigning NBA champions, implying they had robbed the fans by leaving behind a handful of key players, including threetime NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan.
“We had an $800,000 gate at the game, and I felt it was the right thing to do,” said Sarver, who estimates he will give away $200,000 in freebies as a result of the gesture. “It wasn’t about grandstanding or putting on a show. I had some people sitting with me who asked, ‘Isn’t Tim Duncan on that team?’ ”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich fired back, saying he was surprised only that Sarver “didn’t say it in a chicken suit.”
Veteran Suns fans instantly understood the jab. Once, Sarver flapped his arms at the Spurs bench, mocking Popovich for resting key starters in a 2005 regular-season showdown. That was at the start of Sarver’s reign, when he had a lot of hard lessons to learn.
He’s come a long way, regaining a good portion of the public’s trust.
“I’m optimistic, especially in the long term,” Sarver said. “I think we’re solid in all areas. We’re solid in terms of our health, strength and conditioning. We’re solid in terms of analytics. We’re solid in terms of player evaluation. We’re solid in terms of coaching. At this point, in all the key areas on the basketball side, we’re in good shape.”
Entering the 2014-15 NBA season this week, the Suns also are very much like the Cardinals. Both teams were Cinderella stories last year. Both fought valiantly, barely missing the playoffs. Both have extremely likable players and a head coach so popular he could win political election.
The Cardinals have sustained their momentum into a new season and are currently one of four NFL teams with just one loss. Somehow, the Suns must follow suit.
It won’t be easy. They don’t have superstars. They play in a brutally hard conference. They don’t have a stable of big men or a true power forward. Their strength is their depth, which means really good players must sacrifice playing time for the good of the group.
That doesn’t always work in the NBA.
“I think it’s a good problem to have,” Sarver said. “You’re talking about a coach having to make decisions about playing time among really good players. That’s obviously a better situation than having to look for good players.
“Everybody has a role in this organization. The coach’s job is to figure out how to put together all these ingredients for a successful season, and Jeff (Hornacek) is more than up to the task.”
Besides, the Suns seem to fare well when bucking conventional wisdom. Not that long ago, they unveiled Mike D’Antoni’s small-ball, run-and-gun approach that rocked the NBA.
This time, they’re attempting to win with a positionless team, where the three best players are point guards. The newest is 5-foot-9 Isaiah Thomas, who is guaranteed to become an instant fan favorite. In an exhibition game against the Lakers on Tuesday, Thomas hit a game-tying shot at the buzzer, then stared down boxer Floyd Mayweather in the crowd.
He will bring much attitude to the party.
“What I sense is that when our fans look at our organization, they see players and a staff they want to root for,” Sarver said. “They want them to succeed. And I think it’s a likable group. Maybe not having a superstar gets fans even more excited.”
Sarver left himself out of the category of people to cheer for, but ownership is a big piece of this story. Across town, Michael Bidwill has one
“I’m optimistic, especially in the long term.”
ROBERT SARVER
SUNS MAJORITY OWNER
of the hotter teams in the NFL, a franchise that has won 12 of its past 15 games. He has polished up the family surname, once reviled in these parts. And in some ways, Sarver is doing the same thing with his brand.
There will be rocky times ahead. Sarver already has said his team needs a new arena, pointing out that US Airways Center, opened in 1992, is the fifth-oldest arena in the NBA, and at 600,000 square feet, it’s also the smallest.
He’s right. The Suns do need a new arena when their lease expires in 7½ years. But these stadiums don’t get built without significant headwinds or political cost.
For the moment, Sarver is enjoying the resurgence of his team. The franchise he purchased for $401 million has tripled in value. His Suns might shock the NBA all over again. By my count, they are one key player away from competing for a championship. And you know what?
Negotiating for a new home will be simple if there’s a banner to hang from the ceiling.