NBA Bans Donald Sterling for Life, Imposes $2.5M Fine
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling
was banned for life and fined $2.5 million today by the NBA after he
was recorded making racist comments about African-Americans.
"Effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any
association with the Clippers organization or the NBA," said NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver during a news conference in New York.
Silver also said he would immediately recommend to the NBA Board of
Governors that they force a sale of the Clippers and that he would do
"everything in [his] power to ensure that happens."
NBA players and officials -- including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Steve Nash,
and Players Association president Kevin Johnson -- applauded the
decision from Los Angeles.
NBA Players Association Vice President Roger Mason said that players
across the league had made it clear they were willing to boycott the
playoffs if the NBA didn't take swift, decisive action against Sterling.
Sterling, 80, has owned the team since 1981.
Sterling's lawyer, Robert Platt, declined comment when asked by ESPN
whether Sterling would dispute or respond to the NBA's decision.
The money from the $2.5 million fine -- the maximum amount allowed by
league rules -- will be donated to anti-discrimination groups, Silver
said.
"As part of the lifetime ban, Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games
or practices, be present at any Clippers office or facility, or
participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the
team. He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors
meetings and participating in any other league activity," said Silver.
The decision comes just days of public outrage directed at Sterling
after an audio recording surfaced over the weekend that allegedly
contained his voice saying racist comments to his then-girlfriend
Vanessa Stiviano.
The tape recorded a man's voice, which the NBA said today is that of
Sterling, telling Stiviano not to post pictures of herself with black
men to Instagram or bring black men to Clippers games. One of the men
mentioned is Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
"The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful.
That they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my
personal outrage," said Silver. "Sentiments of this kind are contrary to
principles of inclusion and respect that inform our diverse,
multicultural and multi-ethnic league."
Silver mentioned the league's role as a pioneer in diversity and acknowledged famous black players including Johnson.
When asked about past allegations of racial discrimination by Sterling,
including two prior lawsuits, Silver said that the NBA was acting now
because they had concrete evidence.
Sterling settled a lawsuit brought by the Justice Department in 2009 for
housing discrimination; in 2011, Sterling won a lawsuit brought by
former Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor over harassment and
discrimination claims.
"Those are the only cases brought to our attention," Silver said. "When
that [Baylor] litigation was brought it was watched closely by the
league office. It concerned us greatly and we followed the litigation
closely, but ultimately Elgin Baylor did not prevail in that
litigation."
Silver said that he had been in discussions with Kevin Johnson, head of
the National Basketball Players Association, and that the players would
be supportive of the punishment.
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