Timberwolves employee apprehended for purportedly taking hard drive containing ‘strategic NBA data’.
According to various reports, a Timberwolves executive had his hard drive containing sensitive information stolen and replicated by a disgruntled subordinate. Sachin Gupta, the head of the team’s analytics department, reportedly had the hard drive taken from his office at the Target Center by an employee. Approximately 5,700 files, including “strategic NBA information,” were copied before the drive was returned, as per a criminal complaint cited by The Star Tribune. The stolen drive, allegedly taken by former staffer Somak Sarkar, also held employee and player contracts, Gupta’s tax returns, and other personal and financial data.
Sarkar, who was subsequently terminated, was arrested and charged with burglary and felony third-degree burglary for entering without consent with the intent to steal or commit a felony or gross misdemeanor. He was released on $40,000 bail on Wednesday and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.
Sarkar, previously a coaching analyst with the Timberwolves and a coordinator of coaching analytics for the Knicks in 2021, reportedly told police he had taken Gupta’s drive to “upload some content” but had forgotten to return it, according to the complaint. Security footage captured Sarkar entering Gupta’s office on Feb. 3, while Gupta noticed the hard drive was missing on Feb. 5. On Feb. 9, Sarkar was terminated without explanation and escorted out of the building by security.
