LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling is banned for life from NBA games, facilities, and meetings between team owners and, or players.
Sterling, 80, is also banned from his own team facility, meetings or game practices.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made the announcement moments ago during a live press conference.
Silver also announced that the NBA board of governors would “urge Sterling to sell” the team.
But Silver admitted he can’t force Sterling to sell his team.
Over a dozen advertisers have dropped their sponsorship of the Clippers.
Silver said he spoke with team owners and players before making his decision.
Silver revealed that Sterling acknowledged it was his voice heard on leaked audio of a conversation between Sterling and his biracial girlfriend, Vanessa Stiviano. In the audio obtained by gossip tabloid TMZ.com, Sterling told Stiviano not to bring black men to his games — including NBA legend Magic Johnson, with whom Stiviano had posed for an Instagram photo.
“The owners have the authority subject to 3/4’s vote to remove him as an owner,” said Silver in response to a question from the press.
“I can’t speak to past actions other to say that when specific actions were brought to our attention, we acted.”
Stephanie Stepp from Harlem Community Radio asked Silver if the NBA was considering more African American ownership.
“We’re always open to ownership from people of all races, nationalities, ethnicities,” Silver responded. He went on to note that former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal is a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings; David Robinson is part owner of the San Antonio Spurs; and Vivek Ranadivé, ” a person of color” born in Mumbai, India, just became primary owner of the Sacramento Kings.
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