Ex-GM Donnie Nelson sues Dallas Mavericks, says he was fired for reporting sexual misconduct; team denies claim

Former longtime Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson sued the team Thursday, alleging that owner Mark Cuban fired him last summer as retaliation for reporting that Cuban's chief of staff sexually harassed and sexually assaulted his nephew during a job interview in 2020.

The lawsuit also alleges that Cuban offered Nelson, who was fired in June, $52 million to withdraw a wrongful termination claim and sign a confidentiality statement related to the alleged harassment and abuse of his nephew.

Nelson, in his lawsuit filed in Dallas County court, says that Jason Lutin, described in the lawsuit as Cuban's «right-hand man» and who still works for the team, assaulted and harassed his nephew in a hotel room during the 2020 All-Star Weekend in Chicago. The nephew, a man in his 20s who is not identified in the lawsuit, had been invited by Lutin to his hotel room, the lawsuit says.

Cuban denied Nelson's allegations in an email to ESPN.

«Everything in that filing is a lie,» Cuban wrote. «We did multiple complete investigations and the only person that did not live up to the standards of the Dallas Mavericks was Mr. Nelson. He was fired as a result. He was well aware of the investigation. He refused to fully participate. I will say it again, everything he said is a lie.»

Lutin also denied the allegations in an email to ESPN and said, «What this man [Nelson] is doing to someone like me is absolutely unspeakable.»

«It's a complete lie and I defer to Mavs to comment and who have already dealt with this matter,» Lutin said. «And obviously have a lot of information to show none of that ever happened.»

Nelson did not find out about the alleged Feb. 16, 2020, incident involving Lutin, or a subsequent settlement for an undisclosed