Atlanta Hawks GM Danny Ferry embroiled in team’s growing controversy

Another Atlanta Hawks executive became ensnared in turmoil Monday when it was revealed that General Manager Danny Ferry reportedly referred to a free agent target as having “some African in him” on a conference call this summer, triggering an investigation that led to the disclosure of an email containing racist remarks made by controlling owner Bruce Levenson.

Levenson pledged to sell his interest in the team on Sunday after an email, in which he wrote that Hawks home crowds were too black for his tastes, was disclosed publicly.

The investigation that revealed Levenson’s email was sparked by Ferry making disparaging remarks about free agent forward Luol Deng during a conference call with the team’s ownership group in July, according to Yahoo Sports.

“He’s still a young guy overall,” Ferry said on the conference call, according to Yahoo, reading a report based on information from other sources. “He’s a good guy overall. But he’s not perfect. He’s got some African in him. And I don’t say that in a bad way.”

At least one of the team owners, offended by those remarks, called for an independent investigation into the organization’s operations related to race, Yahoo reported.

Deng eventually signed with the Miami Heat.

Hawks CEO Steve Koonin told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Ferry had received an undisclosed punishment but would retain his role as general manager.