Atlanta Hawks general manager Wes Wilcox made a racially insensitive joke while fielding questions from a group of about 200 season ticket holders and club members before a game against the Heat.

Several season ticket holders voiced criticisms of the Hawks, from having Mike Budenholzer as head coach instead of Mark Jackson to the need for a veteran point guard.

According to multiple people who were present, Wilcox tried to diffuse the tension with a joke, which offended season ticket holder Clarenton Crawford.

“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,” said Wilcox.

In a statement released to Deadspin, Wilcox said, “At an early December chalk talk, I made a self-deprecating comment at my own expense regarding my family, which is multi-racial. This joke offended Mr. Crawford and his wife and for that, I apologize.”

Wilcox's predecessor, Danny Ferry, read disparaging remarks from a scouting report on Luol Deng on a conference call. Previous owner Bruce Levenson sent an email implying white fans were more valuable than black fans. 

Hawks senior VP Nzinga Shaw, who was hired as the NBA's first diversity officer, has been counseling Wilcox since the incident.