Kyle Korver says Luol Deng told him he didn't think Hawks were racist
Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver spoke with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore about the ongoing drama surrounding the team. Korver discussed CEO Steve Koonin's meeting with the players on Sunday and his talk with former Bulls teammate Luol Deng about everything that has gone on.
An excerpt:
Q. How did the meeting with Steve Koonin go on Sunday night?
A. He was very direct. He said that he was sorry that all this was happening. That the Hawks are going to do everything they can to make this all right. He didn’t talk long. He was very, very firm. He said that he was sorry that we had to deal with this.
…
Q. You were teammates with Luol Deng. Would you care to comment about what was said about him? Have you reached out to him?
A. Yeah we did speak. Luol is such a good guy. And he’s been through so much in life that I don’t really think this has really even phased him. He told me that he didn’t think that Danny or anyone with the Hawks was racist. He said he was shocked when he heard what was said, but that sometimes things just slip out. It was pretty amazing, really. He just wants everything to move on. He wants to get back to basketball.
Korver has known Deng for years, and he committed to the Hawks last summer by signing a four-year contract. Korver said that the "sad" developments this week have "really bummed me out," and that he's hopeful that the franchise can get back on the path it was following.
It was professional of Korver to even comment on the difficult subject right now, and it's unfortunate that all of the Hawks players are going to be stuck in the middle of this. Korver had nothing to do with the scouting report, the conference call and everything that has happened since, and he will surely be asked many more questions about it all when training camp begins.
Regardless of whether or not you feel the "racist" label applies to Ferry or the Atlanta organization, there are changes coming. Controlling owner Bruce Levenson will sell the team, and the new ownership group will determine the fate of Ferry and the front office. For now, Ferry is on an indefinite leave of absence.
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