ESPN and The Athletic reported on Tuesday that Phoenix Suns management pressured players and staff into signing non-disclosure agreements to protect the team from potential lawsuits.

According to the report, Suns players and staff received a new policy from management in May, requiring them to read and understand the revised policy within three days and then sign the non-disclosure agreement, which has been hailed as "the highest level of intellectual property."

The non-disclosure agreement reportedly stipulates that the Suns and players remain silent on all legal matters, and that claims regarding certain matters "shall be determined exclusively through final and binding individual arbitration."

ESPN reported that the policy covers disputes such as employment discrimination, and that the new policy's application extends beyond individual employment with the Suns, but may violate state or federal laws or be inapplicable.

The Suns have enforced this non-disclosure agreement this summer.

While such a policy is inevitably uncomfortable, Suns Vice President Stacey Mitch, in response to a reporter from The Athletic, argued that "such confidentiality agreements are standard operating procedures for many large American organizations, and even for many professional teams around the world", and that "This agreement will not force individuals to waive their rights to pursue legal action."

The NBA team was sued five times last year by current and former employees, alleging discrimination, humiliation, and wrongful termination, all of which the team denied.

In August of this year, two minority shareholders of the Suns also accused team owner Matt Ishbia of refusing to provide internal documents to the board of directors and lacking transparency.