L.A. Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Banned For Life By The NBA, Fined$2.5 Million, Will Be Pressured To Sell Team

At a press conference held Tuesday, April 29, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been banned for life from the NBA. He will not be allowed to attend games, practices or league sanctioned functions.

Additionally, Sterling has been fined the maximum amount of $2.5 million. He will also be pressured to sell the team.

 Silver said the business mogul admitted it was his voice on the audiotapes that have been leaked on TMZ and Deadspin. On the tapes Sterling can be heard expressing racist and misogynistic views to his then girlfriend V. Stiviano.

Donald Sterling (left) and V. Stiviano

The commissioner said that he had spoken to several owners who approved the punishment.

Magic Johnson was called out by name on the tapes as one of the African Americans Sterling didn't want Stiviano to bring to Clippers games and to not post photos of on her Instagram.

According to Yahoo, Johnson is interested in purchasing the team.

Magic Johnson and his billionaire backers, the Guggenheim Partners, want a chance to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources told Yahoo Sports. "Magic's absolutely interested," one source closely connected to Johnson's business interests told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night.