“This is a Work Environment and this is not acceptable” Isiah Thomas was hit with an $11.6 million sexual harassment lawsuit
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Isiah Thomas as the Knicks Head Coach
In a sexual harassment complaint brought by a former team official, Madison Square Garden and New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas agreed a $11.5 million settlement in 2007. A jury ordered the New York Knicks’ owners to pay the money to a former team executive who had endured crude insults and unwanted advances from coach Thomas. The terms of the settlement were not immediately made public at the time, other than the monetary amount, but they were concluded after a scandalous three-week trial. Earlier, despite flashing his signature smile as he maintained his innocence in front of a throng of reporters and photographers, Thomas stormed out of the federal courthouse after the verdict.
Anucha Browne Sanders was sexually harassed by Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden, according to the jury of four women and three men, but it was decided that only MSG and chairman James Dolan should be held accountable for the harassment and the spiteful termination of Browne Sanders from her $260,000-per-year position. Browne Sanders argued that her accomplishment was more about sending a message than it was about the money outside of court. Isiah, a 6’1″ Detroit Pistons star who led his club to several championships and also achieved personally throughout the 1980s, is probably one of the best point guards in league history.
One of the greatest point Guards in NBA history- Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas aka ‘Zeke’, who was just 6-foot-1, had a significant impact on the NBA in the 1980s despite his little stature. He turned the Pistons into two NBA champions, becoming one of the greatest “small men” in NBA history and a storied and adored character in the city of Detroit’s sports history. Thomas, one of the best point guards in NBA history, immediately contributed to the turnaround of the Detroit Pistons by starting as an All-Star in his first season. In 1989 and 1990, Thomas led the Pistons, often known as the “Bad Boys” for their tough play, to back-to-back NBA championships over the Lakers and the Trail Blazers, emerging in as the Finals MVP in 1990.
Thomas joined NBA Hall of Famers Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, and John Stockton as the fourth player with more than 9,000 assists in league history. Thomas set all-time Pistons records when he retired with 18,822 points, 9,061 assists, 1,861 steals, and a number of other categories that he led over 979 games. After finishing his playing career he coached the Indiana Pacers from 2000 to 2003, and then served as president of basketball operations of the New York Knicks from December 2003 to 2008. Thomas was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and voted as one of the 50 and 75 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Thomas and his harassment lawsuit
Apart from Isiah Thomas’ disastrous GM career, Anucha Browne Sanders’ charges caused a frenzy inside Madison Square Garden. Anucha brought a claim against the GM in 2006 while serving as senior vice president of marketing for the New York Knicks. She said that Isiah had repeatedly harassed her sexually. Furthermore, it was said that the former NBA player touched her inappropriately and verbally assaulted her. It was largely regarded as a publicity disaster for a franchise trying to rebuild its credibility. Since Thomas was appointed president in December 2003, the team failed to win a playoff game and has squandered millions on a slew of flop free agents.
Later, the Knicks replaced her and s he claimed it was because she had complained about Thomas. The Knicks, however, asserted that Anucha’s poor work ethic and manipulation of the harassment probe were to blame. The jury in charge of the historic case determined that Isiah Thomas had engaged in sexual harassment. and ultimately mandated that Madison Square Garden pay $11.5 million to Anucha Browne. The NBA has regarded Isiah as an innocent guy despite the jury’s verdict, although we all know he was a “Bad Boy” Piston from his early days.
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Irvin Philip
(701 Articles Published)