Report: NBA-hired law firm vows confidentiality to employees for Suns investigation
Nov 15, 2021, 10:37 PM
Owner Robert Sarver of the Phoenix Suns attends the NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Phoenix Suns Arena on February 08, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The NBA’s law firm that will be investigating the Phoenix Suns vowed to the team’s employees that they will be granted confidentiality, according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.
The investigation, which follows Holmes’ earlier report into allegations of a toxic workplace and misogynistic and racist comments by owner Robert Sarver, began in Phoenix on Monday with two attorneys speaking to team employees over Zoom.
In that statement, the attorneys “explained that anyone who would like to remain confidential in a potential final report would indeed have their identity kept confidential,” per Holmes.
The talk from the attorneys to employees emphasized how long the investigation will take and stressed an interest in the facts.
The attorneys also encouraged participation and cooperation while acknowledging concerns employees might have about being retaliated against, league sources said.
Employees were encouraged to reach out to the two attorneys directly, league sources said, though it was explained that the process would not be completed quickly and would also include relevant documents.
The NBA announced on Nov. 4 it had opened an investigation after ESPN published an article where more than 70 former and current employees lent allegations that Sarver and the Suns have fostered a poor workplace culture, especially for women and minorities. Sarver, through his lawyers to ESPN, denied many of the allegations that he acted inappropriately.
