Basketball: NBA general manager makes racially insensitive joke at fan event

Atlanta Hawks General Manager Wes Wilcox. Photo / Getty Images

Atlanta Hawks general manager Wes Wilcox has apologised for making a racially insensitive joke during a team event with fans in December.

Deadspin reported that Atlanta Hawks season-ticket holder Clarenton Crawford was in attendance and provided details of the exchange with Wilcox.

Crawford suggested the team replace their head coach as part of a series of questions that caused tension before the GM attempted to calm the situation.

"I know you guys may be angry with me, but I'm used to it because I have a black wife and three mixed kids, so I'm used to people being angry and argumentative," Wilcox allegedly said.

Crawford approached the organisation and received a meeting with the CEO and senior vice president after asking whether Wilcox would be disciplined. He said Shaw told him in the meeting she was "counseling" the GM.

Wilcox then released a statement to Deadspin regarding the incident.

"At an early December chalk talk, I made a self-deprecating comment at my own expense regarding my family, which is multiracial," he said. "This joke offended Mr. Crawford and his wife and for that, I apologize."