NBA's independent investigation of Mavericks workplace confirms misconduct and creates new policies moving forward

Seven months after a Sports Illustrated investigation uncovered workplace misconduct at the leadership level of the Mavericks’ front office, owner Mark Cuban agreed to donate $10 million to “organizations that promote women in leadership roles and combat domestic violence,” the NBA announced in a statement.

The statement was made after an independent law firm interviewed 215 current or former employees and confirmed “numerous instances of sexual harassment” and other forms of misconduct within the Mavericks organization “over a period spanning more than 20 years.”

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban issued an apology late Wednesday afternoon in an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols.

"I’m just sorry I didn’t see it. I’m just sorry I didn’t recognize it. And I just hope that out of this, we’ll be better."
–Mark Cuban apologizing to the women who were subject to sexual harassment by Mavericks employees. pic.twitter.com/iat75NIaSP
— ESPN (@espn) September 19, 2018

“An apology to the women involved, the women that in a couple cases were assaulted — and not just to them, but to their families,” Cuban said in an interview with Rachel Nichols ESPN. “Because this is not something that just is an incident and then it’s over. It stays with people, it stays with families, and I’m just sorry I didn’t see it.

“I’m just sorry I didn’t recognize it and I just hope this out of this we’ll be better, and we can avoid it and help make everybody just smarter about the whole thing.”

Dallas will also face NBA-mandated sanctions, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski’s, that require them “to make changes on reporting, staffing and policy to improve the workplace culture.” The league also fined the Mavericks $2.5 million, the maximum penalty by league rules.

According to the NBA's report, Mavericks were found to have "Serious workplace misconduct by former and current employees," and "improper or ineffective management."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 19, 2018

The investigation began after Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim and Jessica Luther interviewed dozens of Mavericks employees who painted “a picture of a corporate culture rife with misogyny and predatory sexual behavior.” That behavior, the independent investigation confirms, included:

Instances of “inappropriate comments, touching, and forcible kissing” by former president and CEO Terdema Ussery
Two acts of domestic violence — one against a co-worker — by former Mavs.com writer Earl Sneed. Sneed was fired shortly after the Sports Illustrated story
Graphic forms of improper workplace conduct by former Mavericks ticket sales employee Chris Hyde

The NBA's report says that claims were substantiated by 15 current and former employees regarding inappropriate comments and touching by former Dallas Mavericks President and CEO Terdema Ussery.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 19, 2018

The independent law firm also made recommendations for changes to the Mavericks’ organization moving forward:

Increasing the number of women on staff, including in leadership positions;
Enhancing formal reporting processes for victims of misconduct;
Implementing regular anonymous employee surveys to evaluate workplace culture; and
Expanding and improving the Mavericks’ Human Resources department and instituting clear protocols for investigating workplace misconduct.

“The findings of the independent investigation are disturbing and heartbreaking and no employee in the NBA, or any workplace for that matter, should be subject to the type of working environment described in the report,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

You can read the NBA’s full statement here.

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