'Banana Boat' NBA Stars Frown At Phoenix Suns Owner's Sanctions

Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury team owner Robert Sarver was handed a $10 million fine and a one-year ban from any role with either NBA or WNBA organization.

Although these appeared to be severe, not all believe it was.

Among those who gave their opinion were two of the celebrated "Banana Boat Team" of LeBron James and Chris Paul.

For the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, he felt that the league got it wrong and stressed that he did not need to detail why.

"I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership. But this isn't right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place. Don't matter if you own the team or play for the team. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this ain't it," James posted on his Twitter account.

Like most, James appeared to concur with the sentiments of other critics that Sarver got away with a light punishment for 18 years of offenses that current and former Suns employees had to deal with.

Paul of the Suns also gave his take on the decision, aware it was one of the questions that would be asked on media day.

"I am of the view that the sanctions fell short in truly addressing what we can all agree was atrocious behavior. My heart goes out to all of the people that were affected," the 12-time All-Star wrote via Twitter.

These came not long after NBA commissioner Adam Silver defended his decision on the punishment handed to the NBA executive.

"I reiterate how much is indefensible. But I felt we dealt with it in a fair manner, taking into account the totality of the circumstances," Silver stated.

The decision addresses the alleged racism, misogyny and other unacceptable exchanges by Sarver.

But pundits felt the sanctions were lenient, some even pointing out the case of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling who was banned from the league back in 2014 for a pattern of racist behavior.

"This case is very different and it's not that one was captured on tape and the other isn't," Silver stated.

"It's not really about the factual dispute here... What is lost though is the context."