Robert Sarver
Encyclopedia
Robert Sarver is the current majority owner of the Phoenix Suns
. He bought the NBA franchise from Jerry Colangelo
in the spring of 2004.
His father was Jack Sarver, a prominent Tucson businessman, banker and hotel developer (the elder Sarver built the Aztec Inn, the Plaza International Hotel (now a Four Points by Sheraton
) at Speedway and Campbell in Tucson in the early 1970s, built and operated the Tucson area Howard Johnson's
locations and headed a local savings and loan). Jack Sarver died of a heart attack in 1979; Robert Sarver would eventually donate to his alma mater, the University of Arizona
, funds to its heart research center, which in 1998 was renamed the Sarver Heart Center in honor of his father.
After graduating from the University of Arizona
with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1982, Robert Sarver founded the National Bank of Arizona (then the National Bank of Tucson) at age 23 in 1984. He sold it to Zions Bancorporation
in 1994. Prior to the sale, National Bank of Arizona had become the largest independent bank in the state. In 1995 he acquired Grossmont Bank, one of San Diego's largest community banks.
A lifelong sports fan, Sarver’s quest to purchase an NBA team began with a conversation with University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson
. Olson referred Sarver to Steve Kerr
, a former player at Arizona and a 15-year NBA veteran, to assist him in buying an NBA franchise.
After buying the Phoenix Suns, Sarver has received criticism from the media and fans for his frugal approach to running the franchise. Particularly under scrutiny is his selling of numerous draft picks for cash, and his general aversion to going over the NBA's luxury tax, despite being in a position to strengthen his squad and do everything possible to go for an NBA championship during Steve Nash
's (the Suns' 2 time NBA MVP point guard) prime years. In 2008, ESPN
Sportswriter Bill Simmons
wrote an article about the Suns franchise in which he criticized moves made by Sarver and his team. In a June 25, 2011 article, Arizona Republic columnist Dan Bickley wrote that Sarver was "widely considered among the worst owners in sports."
Sarver sits on the Board of Trustees of the Sarver Heart Center (Tucson, AZ), which he helped build in memory of his late father, who was among the first in an experimental group to undergo bypass surgery. The Sarver Center is affiliated with the University of Arizona
and now houses over 40 physicians and researchers dedicated to fighting heart disease
.
Sarver plays golf
, tennis
, volleyball
and enjoys going to California
in his spare time.
He and his wife, Penny (A Kansas City, Missouri
native), have three boys: Max, Jake and Zach.
Sarver is a 1979 graduate of Sabino High School
in Tucson.
Sarver currently lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona
.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
. He bought the NBA franchise from Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo , is an American businessman and sports executive.He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major...
in the spring of 2004.
His father was Jack Sarver, a prominent Tucson businessman, banker and hotel developer (the elder Sarver built the Aztec Inn, the Plaza International Hotel (now a Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton is a Starwood Hotels & Resorts hotel brand, targeted towards business travelers and small conventions. The Four Points is Starwood's 3rd largest brand and is found in over 24 different countries with around 149 properties worldwide....
) at Speedway and Campbell in Tucson in the early 1970s, built and operated the Tucson area Howard Johnson's
Howard Johnson's
Howard Johnson's is a chain of hotels and restaurants, located primarily throughout the United States and Canada. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Howard Johnson's was the largest restaurant chain in the United States, with over 1,000 restaurants...
locations and headed a local savings and loan). Jack Sarver died of a heart attack in 1979; Robert Sarver would eventually donate to his alma mater, the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, funds to its heart research center, which in 1998 was renamed the Sarver Heart Center in honor of his father.
After graduating from the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1982, Robert Sarver founded the National Bank of Arizona (then the National Bank of Tucson) at age 23 in 1984. He sold it to Zions Bancorporation
Zions Bancorporation
Zions Bancorporation is a member of the S&P 500, a bank holding company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Among its subsidiaries are Amegy Bank of Texas, California Bank & Trust, National Bank of Arizona, Nevada State Bank, the Commerce Bank of Oregon, the Commerce Bank of Washington,...
in 1994. Prior to the sale, National Bank of Arizona had become the largest independent bank in the state. In 1995 he acquired Grossmont Bank, one of San Diego's largest community banks.
A lifelong sports fan, Sarver’s quest to purchase an NBA team began with a conversation with University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson
Lute Olson
Robert Luther "Lute" Olson is a retired American men's basketball coach. He was most recently head coach at the University of Arizona for a period of 25 years. He was also head coach at the University of Iowa for 9 years and California State University, Long Beach for one season...
. Olson referred Sarver to Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr
Stephen Douglas "Steve" Kerr is a retired American professional basketball player. He shot .454 from three point range over his career and currently holds the record as the most accurate three-point shooter in NBA history...
, a former player at Arizona and a 15-year NBA veteran, to assist him in buying an NBA franchise.
After buying the Phoenix Suns, Sarver has received criticism from the media and fans for his frugal approach to running the franchise. Particularly under scrutiny is his selling of numerous draft picks for cash, and his general aversion to going over the NBA's luxury tax, despite being in a position to strengthen his squad and do everything possible to go for an NBA championship during Steve Nash
Steve Nash
Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara...
's (the Suns' 2 time NBA MVP point guard) prime years. In 2008, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
Sportswriter Bill Simmons
Bill Simmons
William J. "Bill" Simmons III is a sports columnist, author, and podcaster. He currently writes columns and hosts podcasts for Grantland.com, which is affiliated with ESPN.com. He is a former writer for ESPN The Magazine and Jimmy Kimmel Live!...
wrote an article about the Suns franchise in which he criticized moves made by Sarver and his team. In a June 25, 2011 article, Arizona Republic columnist Dan Bickley wrote that Sarver was "widely considered among the worst owners in sports."
Sarver sits on the Board of Trustees of the Sarver Heart Center (Tucson, AZ), which he helped build in memory of his late father, who was among the first in an experimental group to undergo bypass surgery. The Sarver Center is affiliated with the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
and now houses over 40 physicians and researchers dedicated to fighting heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
.
Sarver plays golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
and enjoys going to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in his spare time.
He and his wife, Penny (A Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
native), have three boys: Max, Jake and Zach.
Sarver is a 1979 graduate of Sabino High School
Sabino High School
Sabino High School is located in Tucson, Arizona. It is located on the city's northeast side. Its current principal is Valerie Payne.- History :The school was established in 1972 in response to the boom of Tucson's east side in the 1960s and 1970s...
in Tucson.
Sarver currently lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona
Paradise Valley, Arizona
Paradise Valley is a small, affluent town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2005 Census Bureau, the population of the town was 14,558. Despite the town's relatively small area and population compared to other municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Paradise...
.