Chris Paul, Devin Booker await results of NBA’s investigation into Suns after ESPN report
Nov 4, 2021, 10:37 PM
Devin Booker #1 and Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on October 20, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 110-98. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker shared a similar sentiment to head coach Monty Williams on Thursday following a 123-111 win over the Houston Rockets.
Williams spoke before the game for the first time since a report from ESPN’s Baxter Holmes had been released, detailing several allegations from over 70 former and current Suns employees on a toxic workplace that included accusations of racism and misogyny from owner Robert Sarver.
The head coach, while maintaining he is sensitive to the situation and understands the seriousness of it, emphasized the information wasn’t clear yet and there were two sides to the story.
Booker was in the same headspace.
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“I wasn’t aware of the situation and in my seven years I’ve been here I haven’t noticed that but that doesn’t make me insensitive to the subject,” he said when asked about the accusation in the story from former head coach Earl Watson that Sarver used the N-word. “I think the NBA opened an investigation and they are going to do their due diligence of bringing out facts instead of he said, she said. I’m sure the NBA has it in good hands and will do the proper research to find out the truth.”
Booker played under Watson for the entirety of the coach’s tenure, and when Booker was asked if he believes Watson is credible, he said the folowing:
“Earl? Yeah, that’s my guy.”
Point guard Chris Paul echoed Booker’s thoughts postgame as well.
“I think right now, like Book said, we’re not insensitive to everything that was said or whatnot but we don’t know all the details,” Paul said. “So the NBA will do its investigation and in that time all of us on our team will continue to play and do what we do.”
The Suns’ victory was their third straight of the homestand. Booker scored 16 of his 27 points in the third quarter. Reserve guard Landry Shamet added 19 points off the bench. Phoenix shot 45.2% from three-point range and hit 14 triples after having a slow start in that department to begin the year.
The team resumes play on Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks in Phoenix.
