In 2014, then-Clippers governor Donald Sterling was at the center of a scandal that shocked the entire sports world.
As the third-seeded Clippers began their quest for an NBA title, audio surfaced of Sterling making racist comments about black people attending games in Los Angeles. Given the nature and timing of his comments, the Clippers franchise was under the microscope as their governor faced justified scrutiny, and the team sought to maintain focus on competing.
In the middle of Los Angeles’ first-round series against Golden State, Sterling received a rare lifetime ban from the Clippers and the NBA, a decision that has not been overturned in the 10 years since.
Why is Sterling excluded from the NBA? Here’s a look back at what happened a decade ago.
Why is Donald Sterling excluded from the NBA?
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers or the NBA on April 29, 2014.
the league official launch stated that the discipline was “based on the Commissioner’s conclusion that Mr. Sterling violated league rules through his expressions of offensive and hurtful views, the impact of which has been widely felt throughout the league.”
In addition to the ban, Sterling was fined $2.5 million.
Tape by Donald Sterling.
On April 25, 2014, TMZ Sports released audio of Sterling making racist comments in a recorded conversation with then-lover V. Stiviano. In the recording, Sterling expressed that she did not want Stiviano to bring black people to Clippers games.
Sterling’s comments were in response to Stiviano’s social media activity, which included an Instagram photo with Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
In response, the NBA offered this. statement: “We are in the process of conducting a full investigation into the audio recording obtained by TMZ. “The comments heard on the recording are disturbing and offensive, but at this time we have no further information.”
Racist comments from Donald Sterling
Sterling’s racist tirade to Stiviano included the following statements:
- “It really bothers me that you want to convey that you are associating with black people. Do you have to do that?”
- “You can sleep with [Black people]. You can bring them, you can do whatever you want. “The only thing I ask of you is that you don’t promote it because of that… and that you don’t bring it to my games.”
- “I’m just saying that on your lousy fucking Instagrams you don’t have to walk with black people.”
- “Do not put [Magic Johnson] on an Instagram so that the world has to see it so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.”
When did Donald Sterling sell to the Clippers?
The NBA, Shelly Sterling and the Sterling Family Trust arrived an agreement sell the Clippers to Steve Ballmer on May 30, 2014. The NBA Board of Governors approved the sale, clearing the way for Ballmer to become governor of the Clippers.
After months of legal proceedings, the closed sale on August 12, 2014.
How much did Donald Sterling get from the sale of the Clippers?
Ballmer bought the Clippers from Sterling for $2 billion, a record sale for an NBA franchise.
The sum represented a great return for Sterling, who bought the Clippers for $12.5 million in 1981. The sale of the Clippers reset rating of professional sports franchises inside and outside the NBA.
Donald Sterling Scandal Timeline
- April 24, 2014: The Clippers defeat the Warriors, 98-96 in Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
- April 25, 2014: TMZ Sports obtains and releases audio of Sterling making racist comments in recorded conversation with then-lover V. Stiviano
- April 26, 2014: NBA opens full investigation into audio recording obtained by TMZ
- April 27, 2014: Before Game 4, the Clippers protest Sterling by turning team-issued jerseys inside out during pregame warmups. Players considered boycott the game. Golden State won Game 4, 118-97.
- April 29, 2014: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver imposes a lifetime ban on Sterling, prohibiting him from any association with the Clippers or the NBA. The NBA Board of Governors is also urged to exercise its authority to force the sale of the team.
- May 3, 2014: The Clippers advance to the Western Conference Semifinals with a 126-121 victory over the Warriors in Game 7 of the first round.
- May 11, 2014: Shelly, Sterling’s then ex-wife he tells ABC Barbara Walters would “absolutely” fight to keep her stake in the Clippers as the couple headed toward divorce.
- May 11, 2014: The NBA shared this response to Shelly Sterling: “If the interest of a controlling owner is terminated by a 3/4 vote, the interests of all other owners of the team are also automatically terminated. It does not matter if the owners are related as is the case here” .
- May 12, 2014: Pound sterling claims he was deceived in his comments during an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. In the interview, he refuted accusations of being racist and disparaged Magic Johnson.
- May 12, 2014: Commissioner Silver publishes a statement in response to the CNN interview. In addition to apologizing to Johnson, Silver reiterates that the NBA Board of Governors is working to remove Sterling as quickly as possible.
- May 15, 2014: Clippers eliminated from the NBA Playoffs after losing Game 6 to the Thunder.
- May 27, 2014: the nba receive answers from Donald and Shelly Sterling to the charge of terminating current ownership interests in the Los Angeles Clippers.
- May 30, 2014: The NBA, Shelly Sterling and Sterling Family Trust arrive an agreement sell the Clippers to Steve Ballmer.
- June 3, 2014: The NBA Board of Governors votes to officially end Sterling’s ownership of the Clippers.
- August 12, 2014: The sale of the Clippers is closed, officially making Ballmer the governor of the franchise.
