Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been banned for life from the NBA and fined $2.5 million after an audio recording surfaced last week of the billionaire real estate mogul telling his girlfriend not to bring black people to games.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the ban Tuesday in a press conference in New York City. Silver also said he would urge the NBA’s Board of Governors to “exercise its authorities to force a sale” of the team by Sterling.
Sterling also owns several properties in Malibu, including Sterling Farms where Vital Zuman organic farm is also located and an adjacent 9.8-acre parcel along Pacific Coast Highway, as well as a residence on Malibu Road.
In the audio recording, released Friday by TMZ, Sterling is heard speaking to his girlfriend, V. Stiviano. Sterling was apparently upset that Stiviano had uploaded pictures onto Instagram of herself with NBA Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson and L.A. Dodger Matt Kemp, both of whom are African-American.
“It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” Sterling said. “…You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in. You can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games.”
The recording has dominated headlines since its release, bringing condemnation from Johnson, Michael Jordan, President Obama, as well as Clippers coach Doc Rivers and point guard Chris Paul. Three sponsors of the Clippers have severed their business relationship with the franchise, while other advertisers suspended funding in the wake of the comments.
Silver said that during an investigation undertaken by the NBA over the weekend, Sterling acknowledged the voice on the recording was his. Silver said that while he did not poll every owner, the NBA has the power to force a sale of an NBA franchise subject to a vote of three-quarters of the league’s 29 owners (a minimum of 22 votes).
“We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling’s views,” Silver said. “They simply have no place in the NBA.”
Under the ban, Sterling is barred from attending any NBA games or practices. He cannot visit the Clippers offices or practice facilities or be involved in basketball or business decisions for the franchise, nor can he participate as an owner representative in league business in the future.
Sterling had not issued a response to the NBA’s ruling as The Malibu Times went to press Tuesday evening, and it is unclear how or whether he will fight the ban. Fox News contributor Jim Gray said he had spoken by telephone Tuesday morning with Sterling, who told him that the team was not for sale.
Sterling has owned the Clippers since 1981, when he purchased the franchise for $12.5 million and moved it from San Diego to Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP canceled an upcoming May event to honor Sterling with a lifetime achievement award and promised to return donations made by Sterling during the past 15-20 years.
Stiviano, identified in multiple media reports as Sterling’s girlfriend, is currently the defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by Sterling’s wife, Shelly Sterling. Shelly Sterling is seeking to recover $1.8 million in gifts allegedly given to Stiviano by her husband.
The lawsuit alleges that the gifts were community property of Shelly Sterling and her husband. It further portrays Stiviano as a young woman who seduces wealthy, older men for financial gain.
Clippers president Andy Roeser said in a statement Saturday he was told by Sterling that Stiviano told the Clippers owner she “would get even” with him.
Stiviano’s attorney, Mac Nehoray, denies the lawsuit’s allegations in court documents obtained by the L.A. Times.
Nehoray also denied to the press that Stiviano recorded or released the tape.
Shelly Sterling released a statement Monday condemning the statements on the recording and attributing them to her husband.
‘’Our family is devastated by the racist comments made by my estranged husband,’’ Shelly Sterling said in a statement to KABC-TV in Los Angeles. “My children and I do not share these despicable views or prejudices. We will not let one man’s small mindedness poison the spirit of the fans and accomplishments of the team in the city we love. We are doing everything in our power to stand by and support our Clippers team.’’
Silver said Tuesday the ban applies only to Donald Sterling and not to other members of the Sterling family.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Vital Zuman had been renamed Sterling Farms.