A former basketball team executive has been awarded US$11.6 million in a sexual harassment lawsuit involving Isiah Thomas -- a New York Knicks coach, a former Toronto Raptors general manager and NBA all star.

Earlier Tuesday, a federal jury ruled that Thomas sexually harassed former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders, a married mother of three and former vice president for marketing.

The ruling found that Thomas, who is married with two children, subjected Browne Sanders to unwanted advances and verbal assaults.

In her original lawsuit, Browne Sanders accused Thomas of calling her a "bitch" and a "ho."

She also accused Thomas of making unwanted advances towards her, encouraging her to visit him "off site."

Outside court, a beaming Browne Sanders said her victory was more about the message than the money.

"What I did here, I did for every working woman in America,'' she said. "And that includes everyone who gets up and goes to work in the morning, everyone working in a corporate environment.''

Thomas did receive a partial victory as the jury ruled he did not have to pay punitive damages.

However, Madison Square Garden owes $6 million for condoning a hostile work environment and $2.6 million for retaliation. MSG chairman James Dolan owes $3 million.

"I'm innocent, very innocent, and I did not do the things she has accused me in this courtroom of doing," Thomas said Friday after the ruling.

"I'm extremely disappointed that the jury did not see the facts in this case. I will appeal this, and I remain confident in the man that I am and what I stand for and the family that I have."

The trial, which lasted three weeks, stems from a US$10-million lawsuit filed by Browne Sanders against Thomas, Madison Square Garden and Dolan. She sought that figure in punitive damages but the jury was free to deviate from that amount.

Browne Sanders -- who was fired from her US$260,000 a year job in 2006 -- accused MSG of being an organization rife with nepotism, sexism, crude remarks and crass language.

The jury did find that MSG committed harassment against Browne Sanders, a married mother of three, and that she should receive punitive damages from the organization.

"We believe that the jury's decision was incorrect," MSG said in a statement. "We look forward to presenting our arguments to an appeals court, and believe they will agree that no sexual harassment took place and MSG acted properly."

Thomas, hired by MSG in 2003, has denied the allegations.

However, he did acknowledge trying to kiss Browne Sanders and asking her, "No love today?" when she backed off.

Dolan testified that he dismissed Browne Sanders after discovering that she was pressuring subordinates to back her complaint.

Defence lawyers accused Browne Sanders of being incompetent and unable to adapt once Thomas arrived at the organization.

The trial was filled with raunchy details -- including testimony from an intern who admitted to having sex with star guard Stephon Marbury outside a strip club.

Madison Square Garden said it would appeal.

With files from The Associated Press