Current Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has yet to make a public statement on his lifetime ban from the NBA for uttering racist remarks to his girlfriend in a recording obtained from TMZ. Prior to learning his punishment, though, he did tell Fox News contributor Jim Gray that the team is “not for sale.”
Donald Sterling insists the Los Angeles Clippers are ‘not for sale’
The Clippers’ owner spoke to Fox News’ Jim Gray prior to the announcement of his lifetime ban from the NBA and said the team is “not for sale.” However, that might not be his decision to make.
“He really didn’t want to comment on the record,” Gray said. “However, the team is not for sale and he will not be selling the team.”
Donald Sterling Fallout
The decision may not be Sterling’s to make, though. The NBA’s board of governors can force a sale of a team with a three-fourths vote if the owner acts in a manner “in such a way as to affect the [NBA] or its owners adversely.” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he is confident the board will make such a decision, and it’s possible that decision will be unanimous.
On ownership super majority needed to vote Sterling out, one Board of Governor tells Yahoo: "Adam has the votes - all of them, I believe."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) April 29, 2014 Sterling will surely attempt to fight such a ruling, but he may not have much of a leg to stand on. Meanwhile, his lifetime ban from the Clippers’ facility will be in place no matter what the owners decide.
Should the sale of the team be completed, there are expected to be a number of prospective buyers. Magic Johnson’s ownership group is reportedly one of them, though Johnson denied those rumors earlier in the week.
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