What did Donald Sterling do? Details of one of the Most Infamous Scandals in NBA History
What exactly had transpired in the premise of the Sterling Scandal in 2014 that saw LA Clippers' former owner Donald Sterling get banned for Life from the NBA?
Follow Us
Donald Sterling (Getty)
The Sterling Scandal from 2014 is one of the most infamous incidents in the NBA. The outrageous series of events that surrounded former LA Clippers‘ owner, Donald Sterling, remains one of the darkest periods in their franchise history till date. But what exactly did Donald Sterling do that saw his eventual ousting and NBA ban for life?
The NBA is one of the most beloved sports platforms in the world where there is no room for racial prejudice. And what if a franchise owner garners such an appalling amount of distaste for people of colour? The NBA will neither support nor tolerate such a presence in one of the most prestigious leagues in the world. And that is exactly what happened.
Related: Where to watch The Sterling Affairs?
What did Donald Sterling say?
In a private conversation with his then mistress V. Stiviano, Sterling was furious when she posted a picture with Lakers’ legend Magic Johnson. “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. 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 bring them to my games”, the tape caught him saying.
The recording was aired in April 2014 by TMZ, although the remarks were supposedly made in late 2013. The scandal evoked immense media outrage. Athletes and fans were appalled by the incident and strict actions followed.
What Penalty did Donald Sterling face?
The distasteful remarks made by Sterling made his position at the NBA impossible to maintain and he was eventually forced to sell off the Clippers. Donald was fined $2.5 million by the League and was banned from the NBA for life.
Sterling had later apologised for his unforgivable actions stating it was a terrible mistake on his part. He insisted he was emotionally distraught and also insinuated that Stiviano had baited him into making the remarks.
The Sterling Affairs – A Miniseries
Nevertheless, the Sterling scandal remains one of the darkest periods in the history of the Los Angeles Clippers. It was a difficult phase for the then-head coach, Doc Rivers, who had to navigate through with his team amid such tension during the upset.
And FX is developing exactly the same plot for their upcoming miniseries. Named “The Sterling Affairs”, the six-part series is set to premiere in the latter part of the year. The show will see Laurence Fishburne as Rivers, Cleopatra Coleman as V. Stiviano, and Ed O’Neill has been cast in the titular role of Donald Sterling.
In case you missed:
Top 25 Richest Sports Team Owners in 2023
Who is Ja Morant’s sister Teniya Morant?
Stay Updated!
Gerard Crispin
(3318 Articles Published)