Former Utah Jazz forward Elijah Millsap – brother of Paul Millsap – claimed via Twitter on Wednesday that Dennis Lindsey, the team’s vice president of basketball operations, made big comments against him in 2015. According to Millsap, the incident happened during a retirement interview that year where current head coach Quin Snyder was present.
In a thread in which he laments that boasting ‘is still very well present’, and expressed his desire to stand up for what is right, Millsap written:
Almost 6 years ago. On April 16, 2015, D. Lindsey made remarks during my retirement interview while chatting with Q. Snyder. “If you say another word, I’ll cut your black ass and send you back to Louisiana.”
The Jazz announced Thursday that the NBA has now begun an investigation into the allegations, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. As part of the process, the league is expected to review the detailed notes the Jazz made during the retirement meeting with Millsap, and forensic experts will be able to see if the notes have changed at all.
Millsap explains to Desert News Reporter Sarah Todd on Thursday why he came forward: “I do not believe” Lindsey is racist. He wanted to highlight the kind of remarks and start a conversation that could lead to unity.
Lindsey too commented after the Desert News in which he said: “I strongly deny that I made the statement.”
Snyder was asked about the alleged incident following the Jazz’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night and told reporters, “I can not imagine Dennis saying anything like that.” Rudy Gobert also commentedand said that he had not yet heard of the incident, but that he would reach Millsap.
Millsap played for the Jazz from 2014-’16. He appeared in 67 games and played 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in a major role.