After investigating the racist remarks made on a recording by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that Sterling will be banned for life, fined $2.5 million, and the NBA will attempt to force a sale of the Clippers.
After the huge announcement, a press conference was held in Los Angeles led by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and featuring a host of former and current NBA players including Tyson Chandler, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Steve Nash. (For the full video, click here)
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also spoke to the media about how huge of a deal this was, as was heard on NBA TV:
Mayor Garcetti: “When you get this many Lakers to stand up for the Clippers, you know something big is happening in LA.” #AmazingQuote
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) April 29, 2014
The issue at hand is something that transcends basketball and the Los Angeles Clippers. The whole league was united behind this cause. Before their game last night, the Miami Heat participated in the same sign of protest that the Clippers did on Sunday.
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Players and owners alike also voiced their support of the ban after the announcement was made.
The Lakers and Clippers engaged in some heated games and have one of the biggest rivalries going in the NBA at this time, but they all came together through this issue.
In order to force the sale of the Clippers, the Board of Governors must bring it to a vote, with a 75 percent majority of the owners needed to force the sale.
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Kobe Bryant Responds To Sterling’s Racist Comments, ‘Should Not’ Own The Clippers
