Many people have been critical of Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver and his role in the recent NBA lockout. There were reports by agents and opinions by opinionators (this one included) that Sarver's hard-line stance would deter free agents from coming to the Suns in cases where they had options.
↵Grant Hill was a free agent he had options. Grant Hill picked the Phoenix Suns and on a recent radio interview with XTRA 910 in Phoenix he explained why.
↵↵↵"At the end of the day I just…I liked my teammates. I like the coaching staff, management, ownership, and just…I don’t know. I just felt like we had something to prove," Hill said on the Bickley and MJ Show.
↵
That's not to say Robert Sarver was the reason Hill choose Phoenix but the controversial owner certainly wasn't a reason he didn't (since he did...pick the Suns).
↵During the lockout at one point Sarver was asked about his role and stance in the labor negotiations and said not to believe everything being said about him and that after the lockout was over he would be able to explain.
↵We've not yet heard from Saver, but we have heard from Grant Hill and his voice is certainly a powerful signal.
↵[Update by Seth Pollack, 12/13/11 10:44 PM MST ]
↵Since originally publishing this story, the Arizona Republic published their own with the first response from Robert Sarver about his role during the lockout. Be sure to read the entire thing.
↵↵
↵↵↵Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver says his hard-liner rep during labor woes was unfair
↵
"I was concerned, and that was probably the toughest part about not being able to get the record straight," Sarver said. "It's important that Phoenix is viewed as a place players want to come to."