Spurs' Kornet Calls to Cancel Hawks' Magic City Event

San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet has publicly called on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel a planned promotional event honoring the city's famed Magic City strip club during their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic.

In a post on his personal Medium blog, Kornet argued that the promotion undermines the NBA's commitment to respecting women and creating a safe environment for fans of all ages. "The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world," Kornet wrote. "We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners that we know and love." He added that allowing the event to proceed would reflect poorly on the league, potentially contributing to the objectification and mistreatment of women.

Kornet, who is in his first season with the Spurs after winning a championship with the Boston Celtics, emphasized that he and others in the NBA were surprised by the Hawks' decision. He noted that environments like strip clubs often expose women to abuse, harassment and violence, regardless of how individuals enter the industry....