The NBA granted Phoenix Suns vice chairman and minority owner Sam Garvin the authority to act as the team's interim governor during Robert Sarver's year-long suspension, reported Baxter Holmes and Zach Lowe of ESPN.

Sarver was suspended for one year and fined $10 million following an investigation into toxic workplace issues under his ownership. 

Garvin, who has been a minority owner since 2004, became the team's alternate governor in 2007.

Sources told ESPN that Sarver would work with the league to appoint an interim governor for the team.

Sarver also reportedly did not accept the idea that he deserved to be punished and became "acrimonious" during the punitive part of the investigation.