Embracing a public figure with troubling allegations, such as a man who reportedly impregnated a 13-year-old while he was still in college, raises serious ethical concerns. When this same individual is honored repeatedly, including at marquee league events like the 2023 All-Star Game alongside basketball legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify disciplining a current player facing accusations of similar misconduct involving a minor. The double standards present in such situations highlight deep-seated issues within the sport.
The individual at the center of this controversy is Karl Malone, who lends his name to the prestigious Karl Malone Award, recognizing one of the best college power forwards in the nation each year. For years, allegations have circulated regarding Malone fathering a child with a girl who was merely 13 years old while he was a 20-year-old student at Louisiana Tech. Despite the gravity of these claims, Malone has consistently refrained from addressing them publicly. At the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, he dismissed the topic, stating to the Salt Lake Tribune, “I’m not discussing any of that. I don’t care. That’s my life, it’s my personal life, and I’ll deal with that like I’ve had to deal with everything. So, whatever. Whatever, I’m human.”
Karl, while you assert your humanity, I know many individuals who are also “human” and would never engage in sexual relations with a 13-year-old. You might argue that “it was the 1980s” and that “things were different then.” However, it’s worth noting that the age of consent in Louisiana was established at 18 by 1920 and was only lowered back to 17 in 2007. Therefore, it’s clear that such behavior was never acceptable, even in a different era.
This brings us to the current NBA player Josh Giddey, who is facing serious allegations of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old, as anyone under 17 is legally regarded as unable to consent to sexual activity. In fact, no U.S. state allows for an age of consent as low as 15. States that set the age of consent below 18 usually implement further regulations regarding the permissible age difference between parties when one of them is under 18, typically limited to three or four years. Giddey, being seven years older than the girl involved in this case, raises significant legal and ethical questions. There is no situation in which this, if true, would be considered lawful or morally acceptable.
Regarding the ongoing situation, Giddey has refused to comment on the active NBA investigation, stating to the media, “I understand the question, obviously, but there’s no further comment right now.” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault echoed this sentiment, offering a similar non-comment, stating, “Personal matter, and I have no comment on it.” Previously, Daigneault mentioned, “Available to play. Will play. No change in status from a basketball standpoint. Still, I have no comment on anything else. Just with the information that we have at this point, that’s the decision that we’ve made. It’s really not even a decision, to be honest with you.”
Why would a serious issue like allegations of statutory rape keep a player from participating in games?
Since the allegations surfaced, Giddey has continued to play with the team, even receiving an ovation from fans on Saturday (for what exactly? It’s baffling), and attracting comments on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) such as “We stand with him.”
Do you genuinely stand with him? Is there truly no part of you that considers Giddey might be problematic?
This pattern is unfortunately not new in the NBA, where players often remain silent about issues concerning violence against women. Have you ever heard a player discuss the allegations surrounding Karl Malone? What about Josh Giddey? Or the felony domestic violence charges against Miles Bridges? What about the accusations against Kevin Porter Jr.? The domestic abuse allegations that once plagued Jason Kidd seem to have faded from public discourse. Meanwhile, Chauncey Billups has been favored as a coach for the Trail Blazers, despite a well-reported allegation of sexual assault. Notably, neither Malone, Giddey, nor Billups have faced criminal charges. In contrast, Porter Jr. is contending with felony assault and strangulation charges in New York, while Kidd pleaded guilty to spousal abuse in 2001, although his ex-wife claimed to have endured years of physical abuse at his hands.
The only individual who has publicly addressed the NBA’s struggle with players and their treatment of women is Charles Barkley, a statement I never expected to make. “There’s been a couple disturbing incidents of domestic violence in the NBA right now; what are we doing to address that?” Barkley asked Commissioner Adam Silver during the NBA’s opening night. “Because you can’t put your hands on women, man. And we should be at the forefront in sports. So what are we, as a league, going to do about that?”
To clarify, I don’t believe that allegations of violence against women in the NBA, or professional sports in general, are disproportionately higher than in the general population. Too often, violence against women goes unreported, uncharged, or unpunished. However, professional sports leagues, through their actions, subtly convey to their fans that these issues are not of significant importance. When pressed by Barkley about the NBA’s potential leadership in the conversation surrounding domestic violence, Silver responded that the league was not competing with other sports to be at the “forefront” of the issue.
But why wouldn’t the NBA want to take a leading role? Wouldn’t that be something commendable? Is Giddey truly so integral to the league that he cannot be sidelined for a few days while the investigation is ongoing?
Even more troubling, some of the league’s top stars, who are known for voicing their opinions on various social and political matters, remain conspicuously silent regarding issues of sexual assault and domestic violence. Steve Kerr often uses his platform to advocate for political causes, such as gun control, yet he has never addressed the issue of violence against women. A simple search for “Gregg Popovich” alongside “domestic violence” or “sexual assault” yields no relevant results.
The league’s most prominent star, LeBron James, has exhibited even more troubling behavior. While he has spoken out against sexism, racism, and misogyny in light of the allegations against former Suns and Phoenix owner Robert Sarver, he made a point to engage with a suspended Miles Bridges after a Lakers-Hornets game, which drew criticism from many fans. In 2022, James distanced himself from the Cowboys due to Jerry Jones’ treatment of players who protested during the national anthem, yet he has publicly supported a post-suspension Deshaun Watson on social media platform X.
“Yessir D Watson!! Another one,” James tweeted. “That boy getting his rhythm back!”
I understand (and fully support) a fan’s decision to distance themselves from Jerry Jones, but to view Deshaun Watson as an acceptable option is deeply concerning. The underlying message conveyed by players and coaches who disregard allegations of violence against women to young boys and girls who look up to them is that these issues don’t matter, that women are not credible, and that none of this is particularly significant. The sentiment that “women are crazy, am I right?” permeates the discussions. If you have any doubt that this message is being communicated loudly and clearly, just take a look at the responses on X whenever an NBA player faces accusations of domestic violence or sexual assault. Observe what young men are saying about Giddey right now.
I harbor significant doubts that the NBA will take any meaningful action regarding the Giddey investigation. After all, they squandered the opportunity to educate young fans about consent when Kobe Bryant faced sexual assault charges in 2003.
Most likely, the minor involved in the Giddey case will decline to cooperate, and the league will simply shrug their shoulders and claim, “We tried!” Eventually, those who assert that Giddey deserves a lengthy suspension if the allegations are substantiated will be labeled as “bringing up the past” or “haters” and will be shouted down. This pattern is consistent in professional sports. While many women adore the NBA, the NBA does not reciprocate that love.
