Suns Employee Fired Amid Discrimination Lawsuit
The Phoenix Suns have fired an employee who sued them for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The information was confirmed by internal sources. Gene Traylor, who served as director of security and risk management since January 2023, was fired last Friday. The organization normally does not comment on internal personnel matters, but Traylor’s dismissal has been made public.Traylor’s lawyers, Sheree Wright and Courtney Walters, have responded to the Suns’ statement, denying that they made public their client’s dismissal and accusing the organization of trying to divert attention from the serious allegations in the lawsuit. They claim that the investigation was a pretext and that the dismissal was an act of retaliation. As part of the lawsuit, Traylor’s attorneys plan to request that the Suns produce all materials related to the investigation that led to his firing. This is the fifth civil lawsuit filed against the organization by current or former employees within a 10-month period. In his lawsuit, Traylor indicated that one of his main functions was to identify security, financial, and reputational risks for the Suns. In 2023, he presented a presentation to management detailing specific incidents of concern. Traylor alleged that the presentation led Suns management to retaliate against him, including his demotion nearly a year later. He also alleged that the team dissuaded him from taking a protected leave after being diagnosed with cancer. The lawsuit also details security tests conducted at the Suns arena by the Phoenix Police Department. In December 2023, officers attempted to enter the arena with concealed weapons, managing to get a knife inside undetected. In December 2024, they managed to get two pistols and a knife inside. The reports from these tests were obtained. The Suns have stated that the safety of the guests is their top priority and that they conduct security tests regularly. The Traylor lawsuit also mentions a security audit conducted by the NBA in February 2025, in which the Suns allegedly failed. The Suns disputed this allegation, claiming they have never failed a security audit.Mr. Traylor was fired from his position as security manager because an external independent investigation concluded that he violated company policies regarding confidential information about security operations and was intentionally untruthful with the investigator.
Stacey Mitch, Senior Vice President of Communications for the Suns
