NBA will vote to remove Donald Sterling as owner

The NBA issued a statement Monday announcing plans to vote on Donald Sterling’s future as an owner. According to the statement, the league is seeking to oust Sterling as an owner. They need a 3/4 vote from the Board of Governors to terminate the Clippers owner.

In the statement, the league specifically details what Sterling has done wrong and why they want him out.

The charge asserts that Mr. Sterling engaged in conduct that has damaged and continues to damage the NBA and its teams. 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.

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. Mr. Sterling engaged in other misconduct as well, including issuing a false and misleading press statement about this matter.

All of these acts provide grounds for termination under several provisions of the NBA Constitution and related agreements.

Sterling will have a chance to respond to the vote by May 27 and will be able to speak at a hearing on June 3.

You know that Sterling will respond and challenge the decision by the league. The guy will lawyer up and fight this with everything he has. I highly doubt that ownership of the team switches hands at any point over the next two years. This could drag out for a while.