Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s company ‘is called out for racism, sexism and drug use’

A shocking report revealed that new Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s company has faced allegations of racist and sexist behavior.

This comes months after Ishbia struck a deal to buy the Suns – and their WNBA sister team, the Phoenix Mercury – from Robert Sarver, who was ejected for similar conduct.

However, Sarver has been accused of engaging in misogynistic and racist behavior himself. Ishbia is not accused of the same things.

a Bloomberg report revealed that several former employees of Ishbia’s company – United Wholesale Mortgage – described a “crowded locker room environment” with a culture where managers “treated black employees differently than white employees”

Other employees said “laughing and sexually abusive remarks were common among salespeople.” Further, employees described “repeated cocaine use among some sales associates and by executives and managers impacting their careers.”

The report says that no employee alleged that Ishbia herself used racial slurs or sexually harassed employees.

Company lawyers responded to the report, saying, “UWM does not tolerate cocaine or drug use.”

A further statement from Sarah DeCiantis, UWM’s chief marketing officer, said the reports were “false and misleading,” while suggesting statements were taken from “disgruntled individuals or a competitor pushing a false story to the media.”

Ishbia bought the Suns from Sarver, who was suspended for a year and fined $10 million.

Sarver, 61, and members of the front office were charged with racist and misogynistic behavior, including allegedly demanding a coach fire a minority cop and allegedly disclosing his preference for oversized condoms at a staff meeting.

In addition to saying the N-word “at least five times,” Sarver was also accused of using language and demeaning behavior towards female employees, including asking a pregnant employee if she would be unable to perform her duties after being had been adopted. a mother.

The unknown woman was told by a team manager to look for a new job, and was eventually demoted.

A subsequent report commissioned by the NBA revealed “racially insensitive language; unequal treatment of employees; sex-related statements and behaviors; and harsh treatment of employees that sometimes amounts to bullying” by Sarver and other executives and managers within the organization.

Similar accusations of racism and sexism against Robert Sarver led him to sell The Suns

None of the allegations made by those former employees are against Ishbia herself

That led to NBA commissioner Adam Silver issuing the fine and suspension — the harshest punishment he had given a team owner since handing out a lifetime suspension to former Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

After being pressured by outside groups and team sponsors to move forward, Sarver eventually marketed both the Suns and the Mercury.

In December 2022, it was revealed that Ishbia would buy both teams for a combined sum of $4 billion. That purchase was made official in late February 2023.

It was a record amount for an NBA team – shattering Joe Tsai’s last record when he bought the Brooklyn Nets for $3.3 billion in 2019.

Sarver initially purchased the Suns in 2004 for $401 million from longtime owner Jerry Colangelo, which was an NBA record at the time.

Mat Ishbia and his brother Justin acquired more than 50 percent of the shares in the team – including Sarver’s entire stake and the interests of some minority shareholders.

Ishbia played at Michigan State under coach Tom Izzo and was a member of the Spartans NCAA championship team in 2000.