The NBA's swift and decisive response to racist comments that a league investigation determined were made by LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling set off what might become a slow-moving process with several potential obstacles.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mapped out his plan – a lifetime ban from the NBA and a $2.5-million fine – Monday to deal with the NBA's longest-tenured owner. The next steps, guided by the league's 92-page Constitution and Bylaws, involve a vote from the league's 29 other owners on whether to force a sale of one of the league's most promising franchises.
Silver said he is certain he has the three-fourths majority required from owners to force the sale, but that he is not sure how Sterling plans to respond – a legal fight over removal is possible. It remains unclear when that vote will happen, but the league's Board of Governors can call a special meeting before its scheduled meeting in July.
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The team's future ownership is likely to remain in question for as long as the Clippers survive in the playoffs.
"I told the players about the decision, and I think they were just happy there was a resolution and that it's over, at least the start of it," first-year coach Doc Rivers said. "I think we're all in a better place because of this."
Many owners issued statements of support for Silver after the announcement. No owners publicly defended Sterling, who admitted that the voice on a recorded conversation with companion V. Stiviano was his, Silver said. The man identified by the NBA as Sterling – who bought the Clippers in 1981 and became the longest-tenured owner in the NBA after the death of the Lakers' Jerry Buss in 2013 – criticizes Stiviano for posting pictures of herself with Lakers great Magic Johnson and Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp.
The comments, released by TMZ on Saturday before Deadspin posted a longer version, harmed the league and warranted Sterling's termination, Silver said. Sponsors were threatening to abandon the NBA and steady criticism was coming from current and former players, civil rights leaders, politicians and others.
Sterling will not be allowed to attend NBA games or practices, according to Silver's decision. He cannot visit the team's office or facility and is banned from "any business or player personnel decisions involving the team."
The NBA's Procedure for Termination
The removal of an owner is addressed in Section 14 of the league's constitution and bylaws -- a document that details the procedure for termination and other league rules. The process begins with a charge filed against the owner, who then has five days to respond after receiving notification.
Failure of an owner to respond to the charge is "deemed an admission... of the total validity of the charges as presented," according to the NBA constitution.
The NBA commissioner can then call a special meeting of the Board of Governors to hear the charges. That meeting is "to be held on a date not more than ten (10) days after the filing of a Member’s or Owner’s answer."
The Board of Governors can then vote on the charges. If the required number of owners vote for Sterling's termination, ownership would be transferred to the league. Once existing debts are paid, the team would then likely be sold.
The ownership removal process played out under much different circumstances when the league bought the financially struggling Hornets from then-owner George Shinn. The franchise was sold less than one year later.
The commissioner indicated the ban applied only to Sterling and that there had been no discussions about whether he could sell to a family member. Sterling's estranged wife, Rochelle, has been closely involved with the franchise for years and she was surrounded by six bodyguards at Tuesday night's playoff game against the Golden State Warriors.
The team has struggled in the shadow of the Lakers for decades, but has climbed from incompetence to Western Conference contender with the addition of young stars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, and the hiring of coach Rivers, who called Silver's decision the start of a healing process.
Photo Credit: AP