Magic Johnson, DeAndre Jordan and others react to Donald Sterling
Donald Sterling is racist in an industry filled with people who are not the same race as him. Those people are not pleased.
Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE
Donald Sterling is a huge racist. We’ve known this for a long while, but more stuff came out on Friday. When that stuff came out, the Internet began to explode. So let’s round up the most notable reactions. (We’ll keep adding as more players and more official comments come out.)
The NBA released a statement saying it it will be looking into it:
“We are in the process of conducting a full investigation into the audio recording obtained by TMZ. The remarks heard on the recording are disturbing and offensive, but at this time we have no further information.”
It’s not fully clear what a full investigation means -- are they making sure the recording isn’t doctored? -- or what action they’ll take, but this is more than the league has done regarding allegations of Sterling’s racism in the past.
Here’s the Inside the NBA crew, unanimously condemning Sterling:
The firestorm was sparked unwittingly by a picture of Magic Johnson. His reaction was understandable:
TMZ reported this morning that Clippers owner Donald Sterling doesn't want me or other African-Americans to come to Clippers games.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014 .@cjbycookie and I will never go to a Clippers game again as long as Donald Sterling is the owner.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014 I feel sorry for my friends Coach Doc Rivers and Chris Paul that they have to work for a man that feels that way about African Americans.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014 LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling's comments about African Americans are a black eye for the NBA.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014 A lot of people are curious how the Clippers' black players will react. DeAndre Jordan made his opinions felt without saying a word:
But don’t expect a boycott:
Doc Rivers: "JJ Redick was just pissed as Chris Paul." Clippers talked it out in pre practice meeting. Boycotting brought up. Doc against it
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) April 26, 2014 Chris Paul didn’t have anything concrete to say, but was troubled by Sterling’s comments:
NBPA president Chris Paul calls Donald Sterling matter "a very serious issue which we will address aggressively."
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) April 26, 2014 LeBron James was FIRM in denouncing Sterling:
LeBron: "No room for Donald Sterling in our league."
— Joseph Goodman (@JoeGoodmanJr) April 26, 2014 Lebron James said if Sterling was his team's owner. "I've wavered back and forth if I would sit out."
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) April 26, 2014 Kobe fired a shot:
I couldn't play for him
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 26, 2014 Baron Davis, who was famously heckled by Sterling, had this to say:
That's the way it is...He is honest about what he believes in..Been going on for a long time, Hats off 2 the Team.. 4 playin above it all.
— Baron Davis (@Baron_Davis) April 26, 2014 ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard had a spectacular response:
I put this on Instagram and Donald Sterling told me not to bring anymore black people to GameDay. :( pic.twitter.com/zC6Au0dFgd
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) April 26, 2014 And of course, there was Snoop Dogg.
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