UPDATE, April 26, 9:15 p.m. ET: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Clippers owner Donald Sterling would not be attending Sunday’s playoff game against the Golden State Warriors in a press conference Saturday.
Silver called the content of the recordings “truly offensive and disturbing” but, citing Sterling’s right to due process, declined to discuss possible sanctions. He said the investigation is ongoing and the league plans to “have this wrapped up in the next few days."
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The NBA is investigating whether Clippers owner Donald Sterling is the man on a "disturbing" tape filled with racially charged comments.
An audio recording, published by TMZ late Friday, includes a heated argument between a man and a woman. TMZ says the man is Sterling and the woman is his girlfriend, V. Stiviano.
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In the conversation, Sterling's anger apparently stemmed from a photo Stiviano posted on Instagram of herself and NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. (The photo has apparently been removed.)
The nine-minute recording is filled with racist comments, including:
"It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?"
and
"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 promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games."
A spokesperson said the NBA is investigating the "disturbing" remarks.
We are in the process of conducting a full investigation into the audio recording obtained by TMZ. The remarks heard on the recording are disturbing and offensive, but at this time we have no further information.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver will address the remarks during a press conference Saturday evening before the Thunder/Grizzlies game.
In a statement to TMZ Saturday, the Clippers organization questioned the legitimacy of the recording and defended the team's owner.
"We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered. We do know that the woman on the tape -- who we believe released it to TMZ -- is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family, alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would 'get even.' Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life. He feels terrible that such sentiments are being attributed to him and apologizes to anyone who might have been hurt by them."
Stiviano, whose Instagram account has more than 120,000 followers, apparently made her account private on Saturday.
On his part, Magic Johnson has chimed in on Twitter to say that he will never go to a Clippers game as long as Sterling is the owner.
LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling's comments about African Americans are a black eye for the NBA.— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
Other current and former NBA players have also taken to social media to express their reaction to the comments -- and point out that this isn't the first time Sterling has been embroiled in a scandal for his alleged behavior.
James Worthy, former Lakers Hall of Famer:
I know coaches & players play for each other & especially THE FANS, but it would be hard for me to play another game for Sterling. #NBA— James Worthy (@James_Worthy42) April 26, 2014
Jerryd Bayless, shooting guard for the Boston Celtics:
I also wouldn't put on that jersey with Sterling still as the owner.— Jerryd Bayless (@jerrydbayless) April 26, 2014
Anthony Morrow, shooting guard for the New Orleans Pelicans:
He's had multiple complaints against him over the last 20 years, but it took this To happen for them to "influence" him to sell the team— Anthony Morrow (@MrAnthonyMorrow) April 26, 2014
Baron Davis, former Clipper:
That's the way it is...He is honest about what he believes in..Been going on for a long time, Hats off 2 the Team.. 4 playin above it all.— Baron Davis (@Baron_Davis) April 26, 2014
Outraged fans have also taken to Twitter, tweeting with #boycottClippers, which is now a trending topic.
In 2005, Sterling was ordered to pay $5 million to residents of an apartment complex he owned for discrimination. In 2011, Sterling was sued by former Clippers GM, Elgin Baylor for age discrimination and harassment. The jury sided with Sterling in that suit but not before racist accusations surfaced, including alleged inappropriate behavior in the Clippers locker room.
From the court filings:
"During this same period, players Sam Cassell, Elton Brand and Corey Maggette complained to me that DONALD STERLING would bring women into the locker room after games, while the players were showering, and make comments such as, 'Look at those beautiful black bodies.' I brought this to Sterling's attention, but he continued to bring women into the locker room."