Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has agreed to contribute $10 million to women’s organizations but will not face any other punishment stemming from what NBA commissioner Adam Silver called “disturbing and heartbreaking” allegations of harassment and violence toward female employees within the organization, the league announced Wednesday.
The NBA launched an investigation seven months ago following a Sports Illustrated report in February which described “a corporate culture rife with misogyny and predatory sexual behavior” that spanned decades in the Mavericks’ organization, including numerous allegations against former CEO and president Terdema Ussery, who left the Mavericks in 2015.
On Wednesday, the NBA responded to findings from an outside law firm that spoke to 215 current and former Mavericks employees and examined more than 1.6 million documents, emails and text messages.
The investigation found there was “improper workplace conduct” toward 15 female employees by Ussery, including inappropriate comments, touching, and forcible kissing. It also found improper workplace conduct by former ticket sales employee Chris Hyde, including inappropriate comments to women of a sexual nature and the viewing and sharing of pornographic images and videos.
The results of the investigation concluded the Mavericks’ management staff was “ineffective, including a lack of compliance and internal controls.” It also found that the team’s executive leadership not only allowed an improper workplace environment to exist, but also fostered the belief that those participating in that environment could flourish.
“First, just an apology to the women involved,” Cuban told ESPN. “… 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.”
That mistake will cost him $10 Million Dollars. Cuban’s $10 million donation, which the NBA said in its release is “in recognition of the institutional and other failures set forth in the report,” will be earmarked for organizations that promote women’s leadership and development in sports as well as those that combat domestic violence, the team said. The maximum fine the NBA office can levy is $2.5 million.