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Atlanta Hawks Owner Bruce Levenson To Sell Team

By Michael Dunlap

May 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks t-shirts are shown on seats before the Atlanta Hawks play against the Indiana Pacers game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks t-shirts are shown on seats before the Atlanta Hawks play against the Indiana Pacers game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson has decided to sell his controlling interest in the NBA’s Atlanta-based franchise in light of a new scandal involving a racist email that was sent out back in August of 2012. NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement via e-mail this morning that confirmed the news and made comments about the NBA’s continuing desire to keep this sort of behavior as far away from the league as possible.

“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.”

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports acknowledged the news this morning on Twitter:

This news is definitely going to shake the foundation of the NBA — again — and one has to wonder how many owners have conducted this kind of business over the years. While the specific contents of the email are currently unknown, a statement has been released by the Atlanta Hawks that notes “cliched assumptions about their (fans) interests (hip hop vs. country, white vs. black cheerleaders) and stereotyping their perceptions of one another (that white fans could be afraid of black fans).”

As a league, the NBA has made it known that they’re not going to stand for this sort of drivel — the generalizations and racist overtones — that this country has been fighting for the better part of the last century. Levenson knew he was in hot water and didn’t want to mimic former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling by trying to defend his actions publicly. Levenson is doing what we’d expect him to do, as he’s showing remorse and accepting the fact that he (and those views) have no place in the NBA (or general society, for that matter).

As of now, Hawks CEO Steve Koonin will be taking over the organizational reports and any team operations while any sale is completed (per Hawks release).

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