The NBA is a place of legends, where the best of the best come to compete. People like Michael Jordan or John Wall are the first thing we think about when we hear NBA. Donald Sterling is less known, but in no way less important.
Donald Sterling is the owner of the LA Clippers, he was recently suspended from the NBA and then fined 2.5 million dollars (the harshest penalty ever given out by the NBA), for his comments in a tape recorded by his girlfriend. In the tape he scolded her for posing in an instagram photo with Magic Johnson.These are some of his exact words:
“It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?”
“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.”
“I’m just saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people.”
“…Don’t put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.”
Those are just a few quotes, the tape lasted for 9 minutes, which is kind of odd when you consider the fact that Donald Sterling’s girlfriend is half black and half latino herself. That means he can’t go out in public with her? It makes no sense.
This isn’t by any means an isolated incident. Donald sterling has a history of lawsuits related to discrimination based on race. In 2009 he was sued by the U.S department of Justice for refusing to rent out apartment spaces to Black and Latino customers. As well as an accusation that his coaches were paid less based on race. It’s clear that this has no place in the NBA. However I still can’t help but feel bothered knowing that these accusations went on for so long, but it depends. If the NBA can keep this from happening again then things should be fine.