OAKLAND, Calif. — A former Warriors employee filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against star guard Monta Ellis on Wednesday, alleging Ellis sent her unwanted text messages that included a photo of his genitals.
In her lawsuit, which also names the team, Erika Ross Smith alleges that Ellis began sending her several dozen explicit text messages, sometimes several times a day, starting in November 2010 while she worked for the Warriors’ community relations department.
The messages included lines such as “I want to be with you” and “Hey Sexy,” and periodically asked her what she was wearing or doing, according to the lawsuit.
Smith would often reply with “What do you want?” or “I am sleeping,” the lawsuit claims.
“On a micro level, my client has endured unwanted harassment, has suffered and continues to suffer emotional distress and trauma,” her attorney, Burt Boltuch, said at a news conference in his Oakland office. “On a macro level, this type of conduct, especially in the sports world, must stop.
“She was embarrassed. She was intimidated. She felt scared and helpless.”
Boltuch said his client rejected Ellis’ advances and feared that no one would believe her. Boltuch also showed a photo of what he said was Ellis’ genitalia that the guard allegedly sent to Smith’s work-issued cellphone on Dec. 17, 2010, a day after he complained to the team about her job performance.
When questioned if the photo came from Ellis, Boltuch responded, “We know it came from him.”
Bryant injures right wrist
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers said Kobe Bryant wouldn’t play in their preseason finale Wednesday night because of an injury suffered in the team’s first preseason game against the Clippers. Bryant is being listed as day to day. The Lakers said an MRI revealed that Bryant had torn a ligament in his right wrist.
Footnotes. The Hawks said starting point guard Jeff Teague suffered a sprained left ankle during Wednesday’s practice and is considerable questionable for tonight’s preseason game against the Bobcats.
• The Bobcats waived guard Will Blalock and forwards Ronald Dupree and Ismail Muhammad.
The Associated Press
