NBA Bans Clippers Owner Donald Sterling for Life, Fines Him $2.5 Million

Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned for life today by the NBA and barred from having any association with the team over racist remarks he purportedly made in a recorded telephone conversation.

Sterling was also ordered to pay a $2.5 million fine, which NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called the maximum possible penalty the league can assess. Silver said the money would be donated to anti-discrimination groups jointly identified by the NBA and the league's players' association.

The ban means Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices and is barred from going to any Clippers facilities. He also may not be involved in any decisions involving the team.

He is also barred from any NBA league activities or meetings.

Silver said he "will do everything in my power to ensure" that Sterling sells the Clippers, a team he has owned since 1981.

Silver said Sterling acknowledged that it was his voice on the recording. The recording was first posted on TMZ. The website Deadspin posted an extended version of the recording Sunday.

"The central findings of the (NBA's) investigation are that the man whose voice is heard on the recording ... is Mr. Sterling and that the hateful opinions voiced by that man are those of Mr. Sterling," Silver said. "The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful."

He added, "Accordingly, effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA."

--City News Service