So Baxter Holmes, where does the story begin?

Let's begin at the beginning of the story I wrote.

It's October 30th, 2016.

The Phoenix Suns are playing in their arena in downtown Phoenix against the Golden State Warriors.

Baxter Holmes covers the NBA for ESPN.

Earl Watson's young head coach for them in just his third game,

close game, but they fall to the Warriors who go on to win the championship.

After the game, as Watson tells me,

Sun's majority owner, Robert Sarver, comes into the coach's locker room.

And he says, according to Watson, you know, why does Draymond Green get to run up the court

and say N-word?

And according to Watson, Sarver then says that word several more times.

Watson, who is black and Hispanic, tells Sarver who is white.

You can't say that.

Why, Sarver tells him.

Draymond Green says N-word.

You can't expletives say that, Watson says again.

Now, I should add, through his legal team, Sarver denied using racially insensitive language,

quote, I've never called anyone or any group of people the N-word or referred to anyone or any group of people by the N-word, either verbally or in writing.

I don't use that word. It is abhorrent and ugly and denigrating and against everything I believe in.

But this anecdote is one of many that offers a glimpse into conduct that many sources told me

is indicative of the culture of the Phoenix Suns under Sarver since he bought the team in 2004.

...