We’re still waiting on the Mavericks’ sexual harassment investigation report

Sorry, there’s no news hook on this newsletter lede: we are still waiting on the Dallas Mavericks’ sexual harassment investigation report. It’s been five and a half months, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver had previously told the world to expect the report in July. We’re a week into August. We’re still waiting on the report.

Sports Illustrated’s Jessica Luther and Jon Wertheim reported on a corporate culture of sexual harassment that stemmed from the top, with former CEO Terdema Ussery accused of misconduct himself and of allowing a hostile workplace to take hold. Multiple Mavericks employees have been fired or resigned since SI’s story and other subsequent stories broke.

But Mark Cuban, the franchise owner, said when the news broke that he did not know any of this was going on. There is evidence suggesting that is a lie. And even if it’s true, it’s not OK. We’re waiting to see how the investigation report comes down on this and many other matters.

Remember that the Mavericks chose the law firm to independently investigate the matter, and the NBA is just “closely monitoring” the investigation. The NBA ought to be in the lead here; while interim Mavericks CEO Cynthia Marshall isn’t beholden to Mavericks employees (current or past) who may be implicated in the report, she is beholden, to some extent, to Cuban, who hired her. Businesses really shouldn’t be in charge of investigating themselves. Even if everything is truly independent, suspicions to the contrary abound.

The funny thing about LeBron James, if you believe in the power of the American dream and equality of opportunitym is that he should be a poster child for what’s right about this country, not someone to denigrate. Alas ...

How LeBron is framed within politics has become rather predictable, because he’s obviously become associated with one party owing to endorsements, stated policy preferences, and his closeness to the Obamas. This latest kerfuffle, created wholesale by a single tweet by the most powerful man in the world, is interesting only in the juxtaposition it creates between LeBron and the last global basketball megastar, Michael Jordan.

On that note, Chris Haynes has a great analogy on what he considers weak defenses of LeBron by those in power positions in the NBA (including MJ). Michael Powell wrote on President Donald Trump and the black athlete. Here’s Justin Tinsley on the Trump-LeBron collision course. And here’s Myles Brown with an intriguing take on the two roads taken by LeBron and MJ on the path to black empowerment.

I wrote about how the NBA’s harsher luxury tax system is working.

Among the 1,546 other projects he has going, LeBron is producing a three-part docuseries on sports and politics called Shut Up and Dribble for Showtime. Sheesh.

Matt Ellentuck has all the details about the Las Vegas Aces getting stuck in travel hell ... and then apparently forfeiting a game upon arriving at their destination. This is wild in the middle of a playoff race!

Seerat Sohi talked to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf about once upon a time not too long ago being exiled from the NBA for protesting during the national anthem.

This is more captivating than it has any right to be, but: inside the card game that essentially ended Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton’s careers.

It’s sort of undeniable, but the Rockets got worse this offseason.

WNBA ratings and revenue are up.

I wrote about the Hawks’ obvious plan to mimic the Warriors and why that’s actually a smart idea.

Masai Ujiri on why bringing the NBA to Africa is so important.

Tony Parker says goodbye to San Antonio.

On the importance of maximizing Ben Simmons’ offensive versatility.

The time a college team that included some World War II veterans beat Dolph Schayes and the early NBA powerhouse Syracuse Nationals in an exhibition game.

Be excellent to each other.