LeBron James was among the most forceful NBA voices to speak out against Donald Sterling after a tape of his racist rant became public last week, and now that Commissioner Adam Silver has lowered the boom on the L.A. Clippers’ owner, the reigning MVP still has much to say.
“Commissioner Silver thank you for protecting our beautiful and powerful league,” James tweeted in the immediate aftermath of Silver slapping the league’s longest tenured owner with a lifetime ban and a fine of $2.5 million. “Great leader.”
In the midst of his Miami Heat striving to become the first NBA team in nearly two decades to earn a league three-peat, James took the time this week to tell all the world “there’s no room for Donald Sterling in the NBA. “It doesn’t matter, white, black or Hispanic — all across the races it’s unacceptable.”
In addition to the ban, the league has banned the 80-year-old Sterling from all team functions and activities. Sterling’s rants included admonishments to his girlfriend V. Stiviano “not to bring black people to my games” and even aimed a direct missile at Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
James later added “I can only imagine if a player came out and said something of that stature, what would happen to us as players. I believe in Adam Silver and I believe in the NBA… but like I said, there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league.”
With the league now calling on Sterling to relinquish control of his franchise, Johnson and Sean “Diddy” Combs are all rumored to be interested in buying the franchise.
“Commissioner Silver showed great leadership in banning Donald Sterling for life,” Johnson later tweeted. “Former and current NBA players are very happy and satisfied with Commissioner Silver’s ruling.”
Sterling bought the Clippers in 1981 at a price of $12.5, while Forbes now values the franchise at $575 million.
