Randy Brown publicly defended himself against allegations that he is the eyes and ears of Gar Forman within the Chicago Bulls' locker room. According to a report last week, Jimmy Butler told fellow players that Brown shares criticisms of the front office made by players with Forman.
Forman recruited Brown for New Mexico State in the late 1980s.
"Look, this is a public position. I get it. But my reputation is being slandered at this point," Brown told the Tribune. "I'm losing sleep the last couple of days. I'm trying to get over it. But it's tough.
"I played 12 years in the NBA. I've had hundreds of teammates and I've always been a good teammate on and off the court. I've never been known as the person I'm being portrayed as. As a former player, I understand how sacred the locker room is. I would never, ever violate that unwritten rule. That room is for the players. It's not for me to report anything. I would never do that.
"I think I'm a really, really good coach. I work my ass off for Fred Hoiberg and the Bulls. I treat all my players the same, from D-Wade all the way down to Denzel Valentine. I feel I relate to these players in more ways than basketball. For me to be portrayed as being a snitch really, really doesn't sit well with me. It's not part of who I am."
Brown also wouldn't apologize for his close relationship with Forman.
"I've known Gar for 28 years," Brown said. "My mother and dad trusted Gar with me years ago. He's like family to me. That relationship is never going to change. It doesn't mean I have to degrade myself for the organization.
"Gar has never come to me and said, 'Hey, Randy, I want you to be a spy in Fred Hoiberg's locker room.' That doesn't even sound right. Gar and Pax (executive vice president John Paxson) would never ask me to do that. And Fred Hoiberg knows that. It is disrespectful for Gar to say, 'Randy, how you doing?' and I don't respond just because I'm a coach. Even if a player was to say something (private) to me inside those walls, Gar and Pax wouldn't even me put me in that position (to share it). I have good relationships with the entire team."