Former Utah ahead Elijah Millsap mentioned Friday that he has not but heard from any investigators relating to his allegation that Jazz govt Dennis Lindsey made a bigoted remark to him throughout an end-of-season assembly in 2015.
Millsap additionally expressed doubt {that a} truthful investigation might happen relating to his declare that Lindsey, who then was the crew’s common supervisor and now’s an govt vp, threated to chop his “Black ass” and ship him house.
Millsap made the allegation in a tweet on Wednesday. The Jazz responded Thursday by saying they would bring in outside counsel to conduct a thorough investigation, and the NBA will be part of that probe as well.
“Clearly, I do know my fact,” Millsap mentioned in an interview with The Related Press. “Some outdoors counsel or any individual, all they’ll do is simply attempt to stir it up and make it me look as if I’m mendacity. I did it principally to free myself from the torture of holding issues in, to free myself, to not make Dennis Lindsey really feel dangerous and to not make him appear to be a racist. I don’t really feel he’s a racist, however I do know what he mentioned to me.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the league’s involvement Friday.
“We take allegations of discrimination critically, so will we additionally take the due course of rights of those that are being accused, which is why we do full investigations,” Silver mentioned. “And on this case, the investigation is being carried out in partnership and in coordination with the Utah Jazz.”
Millsap performed in 67 video games for the Jazz over two seasons. The incident in query got here from an April 2015 exit assembly, which Millsap—the brother of longtime Utah standout Paul Millsap—mentioned was additionally attended by Jazz coach Quin Snyder.
Millsap mentioned he remembers being “excessive vitality” going into that assembly and keen to listen to what Lindsey and Snyder would say to him.
“I used to be anticipating nice suggestions,” Millsap mentioned. “After which it took a flip for the more severe.”
Millsap mentioned Lindsey advised him, “If u say yet one more phrase, I’ll minimize your Black ass and ship you again to Louisiana.”
Millsap met with reporters shortly after leaving the assembly with Snyder and Lindsey and didn’t present any indicators of being upset. He was waived by the Jazz in January 2016, a day earlier than the rest of his contract for that season would have been assured, he mentioned. Such strikes will not be unusual with non-guaranteed offers.
Lindsey has denied making the remark. Snyder has mentioned he has no recollection of it taking place, and defended Lindsey once more on Friday earlier than the Jazz performed in Miami.
“I’ve by no means heard something remotely near that from Dennis,” Snyder mentioned. “I haven’t heard something, like I mentioned, remotely near that and know him and his character. And I additionally assume that if one thing like that have been ever mentioned, I’m delicate to these points and I might keep in mind it.”
Millsap appeared in solely two extra NBA video games after the Jazz waived him, and mentioned he believes the crew has not spoken effectively of him when different groups requested about his background. He mentioned he nonetheless works out for a number of hours a day and want to resume his taking part in profession.
Millsap mentioned he doesn’t have any particular decision that may fulfill him in thoughts.
“These guys, that they had the chance to inform folks the reality about who I used to be,” Millsap mentioned. “They usually didn’t do this. That’s disgusting to me.”
