Another Lawsuit Rocks the Franchise
The Phoenix Suns were facing renewed legal scrutiny after Gene Traylor, the team’s director of safety, security, and risk management, filed a federal lawsuit in Arizona, first reported by the Washington Post. Traylor alleged the franchise retaliated against him following a 2023 report he submitted detailing internal security failures.
After presenting the findings to management, Traylor claimed he was demoted and discouraged from taking medical leave, even after receiving a cancer diagnosis. It’s worth noting these were allegations made in a filed complaint, not established findings of fact.
Alarming Incidents at the Core of the Complaint
Traylor’s presentation highlighted three specific events that he said exposed organizational risk:
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A part-time employee allegedly stole over $40,000 in merchandise.
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A disgruntled individual disrupted an executive-attended team event.
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A political influencer harassed Brittney Griner at an airport, delaying a Mercury team flight.
The Suns responded by questioning the credibility of Traylor’s attorney, Sheree Wright. They referenced past disciplinary actions taken against her by the Arizona Supreme Court and described the lawsuit as “delusional and categorically false.”
Security Failures Trigger Federal Attention
The complaint also detailed multiple alleged failed security tests. According to Traylor, undercover Phoenix Police officers entered the arena with weapons during two separate audits. Additionally, he claimed a surprise NBA audit in February 2025 exposed security gaps, a claim the team denied.
Traylor submitted complaints to both the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Arizona’s Attorney General.
Suns’ Legal Woes Continue to Mount
Traylor’s complaint joined a growing list of legal actions involving the organization at the time:
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Andrea Trischan sought $60 million in damages for alleged harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination.
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Jason Cope claimed age-based discrimination and misclassification.
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Jane Doe accused a former executive of racial and gender-based harassment.
Attorneys Wright and Courtney Walters asserted that all lawsuits were supported by credible evidence and witnesses. The Suns, in turn, alleged that Wright was actively recruiting plaintiffs to build a meritless legal campaign.
A Culture in Question, Again
This wave of legal action came in the shadow of the 2022 NBA investigation into former owner Robert Sarver. That probe resulted in a one-year suspension and a $10 million fine. At the time, the league mandated internal reforms, and current owner Mat Ishbia pledged to rebuild the franchise’s culture.
“We’re going to start with culture and team,” Ishbia stated in 2023. “I want to make this the best place to work.”
What happened next
The Traylor case did not hold up. In July 2025, the Suns fired Traylor after an independent outside investigation concluded he had violated company policy around confidential security information and had been untruthful with investigators, according to ESPN. In April 2026, Traylor dismissed his own lawsuit with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled, without any settlement or payment from the Suns, and a court ordered him to pay the team $15,000, per ESPN’s follow-up report.
