Robert Sarver

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Robert Sarver (born 1961 in Tucson, Arizona) 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 Tucson businessman and developer. He built the Aztec Motel and ran the Howard Johnson's. His father died of a heart attack and Robert Sarver donated to the University of Arizona funds to the heart research center now named the Sarver Heart Center. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1982, 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.

Sarver sits on the Board of Trustees of the Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona, which he helped build in memory of his late father, Jack, who was among the first in an experimental group to undergo bypass surgery. The center now houses over 40 physicians and researchers dedicated to fighting heart disease.

Sarver has a 27 handicap in golf, plays tennis and volleyball, and enjoys going to California in his spare time. During his first date with his eventual wife, Penny Sanders, he invited her to watch the NCAA Basketball Tournament in his casita.

He and his wife, 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 Arizona

v • d • e
Phoenix Suns
The Franchise
Arenas
Culture & Lore
Important Figures
Ring of Honor & Retired Numbers
Hall of Famers
Key Personnel
Owner: Robert Sarver • General Manager: Steve Kerr • Head Coach: Terry Porter • Voice of the Suns: Al McCoy
Head Coaches
Western Conference
Championships (2)
Pacific Division
Championships (6)
1981 • 1993 • 1995 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007
Seasons (40)
1968-69 • 1969-70 • 1970-71 • 1971-72 • 1972-73 • 1973-74 • 1974-75 • 1975-76 • 1976-77 • 1977-78 • 1978-79 • 1979-80 • 1980-81 • 1981-82 • 1982-83 • 1983-84 • 1984-85 • 1985-86 • 1986-87 • 1987-88 • 1988-89 • 1989-90 • 1990-91 • 1991-92 • 1992-93 • 1993-94 • 1994-95 • 1995-96 • 1996-97 • 1997-98 • 1998-99 • 1999-2000 • 2000-01 • 2001-02 • 2002-03 • 2003-04 • 2004-05 • 2005-06 • 2006-07 • 2007-08
D-League
Affiliate


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