The president and chief operating officer of Madison Square Garden Sports, testifying in federal court Wednesday, contradicted claims by fired Garden executive Anucha Browne-Sanders that she had complained to him about sexual harassment and verbal abuse by embattled New York Knicks president and coach Isiah Thomas.

Instead, Steve Mills said, as the defense opened its case in the $10.3-million illegal termination and harassment lawsuit, Browne-Sanders had only complained about business disputes with Thomas.

Testifying in the courtroom of Judge Gerard Lynch at Federal District Court in Manhattan, Mills told the jury Wednesday morning that Browne-Sanders had never complained to him about the use of profanity by Thomas or of any romantic or sexual overtures by Thomas in 2004 or 2005. This contradicted claims by Browne-Sanders and witnesses, who earlier testified she was the victim of sexual harassment and abuse.

Responding to questioning by Garden lead attorney Ronald Green, Mills said: "Anucha complained to me about a lot of things. She wasn't happy with Isiah's lack of response to things."

"There was always tension in the relationship, business relationship" between the two of them, Mills said of Thomas and Browne-Sanders.