I’m glad the NBA is not taking anything from the team owners. The NFL somehow struggle to but with Sterling and now the news of Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson deciding to sell the team is a good sign that the NBA truly has Zero tolerance towards owners like these.
Following Bruce Levenson notifying the league office this July of his August 2012 email, the NBA commenced an independent investigation regarding the circumstances of Mr. Levenson’s comments.
Prior to the completion of the investigation, Mr. Levenson notified me last evening that he had decided to sell his controlling interest in the Atlanta Hawks. As Mr. Levenson acknowledged, the views he expressed are entirely unacceptable and are in stark contrast to the core principles of the National Basketball Association. He shared with me how truly remorseful he is for using those hurtful words and how apologetic he is to the entire NBA family – fans, players, team employees, business partners and fellow team owners – for having diverted attention away from our game.
I commend Mr. Levenson for self-reporting to the league office, for being fully cooperative with the league and its independent investigator, and for putting the best interests of the Hawks, the Atlanta community, and the NBA first. (Quote from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver via CBS Sports.)
Good on Levenson for deciding to sell the team and not fight the NBA like Sterling did. The team will be sold and this will blow over in record time.
