Tim Duncan the latest to speak on behalf of Danny Ferry

Tim Duncan is the latest NBA figure to voice his support for Atlanta Hawks GM Danny Ferry who is currently on a leave of absence and away from the team. Duncan in a radio interview with sports radio ESPN 1250 said that he doesn't think Ferry is 'racist in any way."

"Knowing Danny, he's not what everybody's saying about him," Duncan told another former teammate, Antonio Daniels, during a radio interview with the San Antonio radio station KZDC. "He's not a racist."

"We both know Danny," Duncan told Daniels. "Danny is a jokester. He plays around. ... For it to have gone this far, it's unfortunate because he's not that kind of person.

"He said something absolutely wrong and he regrets it. He's not a racist. I know him well enough to feel comfortable saying that."

NBA legend Magic Johnson spoke out on Twitter on Tuesday saying that he had spoken with Ferry and that he believed he deserved a second chance.

When Ferry left, the Hawks placed no timetable on his return or eventual full departure. Team CEO Steve Koonin announced in a statement that the leave time would "allow Ferry to listen to the community and to learn from his mistakes." Hawks' head coach Mike Budenholzer has assumed control of all basketball operations while Ferry is away.