The NBA on Monday formally accused Donald Sterling of making racists comments, in its official move toward ousting the despised LA Clippers owner.
Commissioner Adam Silver will need to persuade three-quarters of NBA owners to vote for removing Sterling as head of the Clippers and force him to sell the team.
The NBA issued a statement claiming Sterling’s racist remarks, which were revealed in a leaked recording, violated the terms of the league’s constitution.
“All of these acts provide grounds for termination under several provisions of the NBA constitution and related agreements,” it said.
Sterling has until May 27 to respond to charges.
A hearing on Sterling, presided over by Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, has been scheduled for June 3.
If Sterling doesn’t respond or blows off the hearing, it would be deemed an admission of the “total validity of the charges as presented,” the league said.
“Mr. Sterling’s actions and positions significantly undermine the NBA’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion; damage the NBA’s relationship with its fans; harm NBA owners, players and Clippers team personnel; and impair the NBA’s relationship with marketing and merchandising partners, as well as with government and community leaders,” the league said.
Silver has said he’s confident three-quarters of league owners will want to boot Sterling.
He cites Article 13(d) of the NBA constitution and bylaws, which states team ownership can be revoked if an owner fails “to fulfill its contractual obligations to the Association, its Members, Players, or any other third party in such a way as to affect the Association or its Members adversely.”
Sterling made racist comments in a taped conversation with former girlfriend V. Stiviano.
In the recording, he can be heard chastising Stiviano for having black friends and ordering her not to bring any African-Americans to Clippers games.
He also singled out hoops legend Magic Johnson.
“Among other things, Mr. Sterling disparaged African-Americans and minorities; directed a female acquaintance not to associate publicly with African-Americans or to bring African-Americans to Clippers games; and criticized African-Americans for not supporting their communities,” the NBA said.
Within days of the recording becoming public, Silver fined Sterling $2.5 million and banned him for life.
Sterling bought the team in 1981, when its was known as the San Diego Clippers, for $12.5 million.
It has been estimated that he could fetch up to $1 billion for the squad.
Sterling has said he won’t pay the fine and will contest the NBA’s authority to force a sale.
Sterling’s attorney, Maxwell Blecher, did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Blecher’s outgoing voice-mail message Monday said he and his firm had no comment on Sterling.
With Post Wire Services