Among the allegations: Former Suns coach Earl Watson said Sarver was upset that Golden State forward Draymond Green used the N word in a game in 2016 and that the owner repeated the N word multiple times when he expressed his displeasure. Watson said he told Sarver he couldn’t use that word.

Watson coached the Suns for all or part of three seasons before being fired three games after the start of the 2017-18 season.

Sarver said in his statement that Watson was “clearly not a credible source.”

“While there is so much inaccurate and misleading stuff in this story that I hardly know where to start, let me be clear: the word n ​​is not in my vocabulary,” said Sarver. “I have never called any person or group of people the n word, nor have I ever referred to anyone or a group of people by that word, either verbally or in writing. I don’t use that word.

Watson released his own statement through the Toronto Raptors, where he is now an assistant coach.

“I’m not interested in getting into an ongoing battle of facts,” Watson said. “Instead, I want to applaud the courage of the many players, executives and staff to fight the toxic environments of racial insensitivity, sexual harassment and micro-aggression with their truth.

“Basketball and 17 years in the NBA have given me the financial privilege to speak my truth, but we cannot forget those who must remain silent for fear of losing their jobs.”