The Phoenix Suns have terminated director of safety, security and risk management Gene Traylor, who recently filed a federal lawsuit against the franchise alleging discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, according to Baxter Holmes of ESPN.
Traylor, who joined the team in January 2023, was dismissed on Friday. The organization cited findings from an independent investigation as the reason for his removal.
“Mr. Traylor was terminated from his position as a security manager because an independent, outside investigation concluded that he violated company policies with respect to confidential information about security operations and he was intentionally untruthful with the investigator,” Suns Senior Vice President of Communications Stacey Mitch told ESPN.
The firing came just over two months after Traylor filed suit in U.S. District Court in Arizona. His attorneys, Sheree Wright and Courtney Walters, say the team’s justification is retaliatory.
“Neither Mr. Traylor nor his attorneys publicized his termination,” Walters told ESPN. “The so-called ‘independent investigation’ was a pretext and a convenient cover to justify a termination rooted in retaliation, not truth.”
The lawsuit claims that Traylor submitted a report to Suns leadership in 2023 identifying multiple safety and operational concerns. Traylor alleges the report led to him being demoted and discouraged from taking medical leave after a cancer diagnosis.
Among the issues highlighted was a December 2023 field test conducted by the Phoenix Police Department’s Homeland Defense Bureau. Officers posing as fans were able to bring a knife into the Suns’ arena. A follow-up test in December 2024 reportedly saw officers sneak in two handguns and another knife.
Traylor’s complaint also claims the Suns failed a February 2025 NBA security audit and “multiple other” league evaluations, though the team denies ever failing such assessments.
The dispute adds to a growing list of legal troubles for the franchise. Traylor’s is the fifth civil lawsuit filed by current or former employees against the Suns in the past 10 months. In July, former Phoenix Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue filed a separate suit alleging race and gender discrimination.
Traylor’s attorneys plan to file a discovery request seeking all documents related to the investigation that led to his dismissal. The team has not confirmed whether it will comply.
This latest lawsuit comes after a tumultuous season for Phoenix, which ended with the team missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The offseason has seen sweeping changes, including a new head coach, a front office overhaul, and the breakup of the team’s high-profile “Big Three.”
