NBA owners react to Donald Sterling recording
Fellow owners around the NBA gave their thoughts -- mostly no comments -- about the controversy surrounding Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
Ronald Martinez
Former and current NBA players, celebrities and figures from everywhere have been reacting to a recording of a man alleged to be Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, but what about the other owners around the league?
Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan kept it clean and simple, distancing himself by using a team representative to decline comment on the situation. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban also sidestepped questions regarding Sterling, but was a bit more liberal in implying without outright saying his thoughts on the subject, via Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas:
Donald Sterling fallout
Donald Sterling fallout
“They stand on their own, just because they’re pretty self-evident on the surface,” Cuban said. “There’s no reason to add any commentary or headlines to it. ...
“The obvious is the obvious. There’s no reason for me to repeat the obvious.”
Cuban did acknowledge the severity of the issue, but he repeatedly said it’s an issue for commissioner Adam Silver and the league to address.
Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck was also quiet on the subject, stating NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks for all owners, and that they stand behind his leadership. Silver held a press conference Saturday night and expressed that the league would allow Sterling “due process” as they investigate the circumstances surrounding the TMZ tape.
The few owners who did express their opinions openly were clear. Miami Heat owner Micky Arison called the recording “offensive, appalling and very sad.” San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt urged patience as the details are sorted out, but also acknowledged this wasn’t the first racial controversy involving Donald Sterling and called the comments “obviously disgusting.”
New Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive took to Twitter to give his own thoughts on the situation and urged for "zero tolerance" if the TMZ recording is verified.
If @TMZ recording is true, we must have zero tolerance. Fully support commish Silver @NBA.
— Vivek Ranadivé (@Vivek) April 27, 2014 As the news spreads and details surface, the owners will watch what precedent is set by Commissioner Silver in the first league crisis since taking the reigns from David Stern.
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