Donald Sterling makes racist comments; banned from NBA

Outrage erupted recently when 80-year-old Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald

Sterling was recorded giving racist sentiments in a phone conversation. The National

Basketball Association announced Tuesday that Sterling is banned for life from the team and

league. In addition to this, he is no longer allowed to attend NBA games or practices and may

not be present at any Clippers facility, according to NBC. The NBA’s new commissioner Adam

Silver made the announcement to an overwhelmingly approving audience Tuesday.

Sterling also faces a fine of $2.5 million, the maximum allowed by the league rules.

The comments in question involve Sterling telling his much-younger girlfriend over the

phone that she shouldn’t bring black people to his games and criticizing her for posting a

picture online featuring Magic Johnson. Johnson himself, as well as Michael Jordan, were

quoted as voicing harsh criticism in response to Sterling’s comments. “He shouldn’t own a

team anymore,” Johnson told ESPN. “I had a friendship with him. So for him to then make

these comments, or alleged comments, about myself as well as other African-Americans and

minorities, there’s no place in our society for it.” According to ESPN, Jordan voiced a similar

opinion, saying, “As an owner, I’m obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold

such sickening and offensive views. I’m confident that Adam Silver will make a full

investigation and take appropriate action quickly. As a former player, I’m completely

outraged.”

The announcement came just eight hours before the LA Clippers were to play in the fifth game

of a fiercely contested first-round playoff series with the Golden State Warriors.

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