Why The NBA Must Banish Donald Sterling

This past Saturday, Silver made a statement on the matter assuring everyone that the NBA is investigating the matter. Once the NBA is able to prove the authenticity of the audio and if Sterling did make these comments, then Silver must do everything in his power to revoke Sterling’s ownership priviliges for as long as possible.

Theoretically Silver works for the owners, but his job as commissioner of the NBA is to protect the integrity of the league while also making sure that everyone in the league doesn’t forget that. Sterling’s alleged comments have now created a black eye for himself, Silver, the Clippers, the NBA, and society as a whole. Per the NBA’s bylaws, Silver cannot force Sterling to sell the Clippers, but the NBA’s other team owners could force him out as he is simply bad for business. In the wake of the controversy, sponsors have been dropping their ties with the Clippers left and right which is bad for the NBA’s image; more importantly from a financial standpoint.

In a league that is predominately made up of African-American players it will be tough for the Clippers to sign players going forward if Sterling is still the owner which will make it that much tougher for the franchise to compete. It took 30 years for the Clippers to become a contender under Sterling and the Clippers and the NBA cannot afford for this team to go backwards.

This isn’t Sterling’s first time around the controversy block. Sterling is the same man that previously refused to rent out apartments to African-Americans and Hispanics in Beverly Hills. Sterling is also the same man that sat court side at Clipper home games and heckled former Clippers point guard Baron Davis. Former Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor sued Sterling for age and race discrimination.

Since owning the Clippers, Sterling has cared about nobody else but himself. The Clippers play in the second largest media market in the United States, but under Sterling they have only been able to secure five winning seasons due to his constant mismanagement of the team. More than likely the Clippers would still be a laughing stock if former NBA commissioner David Stern didn’t reject a trade that would have sent point guard Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011. Instead Paul ended up with the Clippers and their fortunes as an organization have changed.

Coming into the NBA Playoffs the Clippers were a legitimate threat to win the Western Conference and make their first trip to the NBA Finals. Before Sterling’s comments became public, the Clippers were up 2-1 in their best-of-seven series against the Golden State Warriors as they were looking to bury their Pacific Division rivals from Oakland. Instead the Clippers were walloped yesterday 118-97 in Game 4 as they are now searching for answers. The Clippers have unfairly had to answer questions about Sterling while Clippers head coach Doc Rivers cancelled practice today in the effort to have his team in the right frame of mind when they take the floor tomorrow night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for a critical Game 5.

Overnight Sterling has gone from a forgotten man to public enemy number one. It is up to Silver to drop the hammer as hard as he can and then some as he looks to establish his own reputation as commissioner of the NBA. Silver’s predecessor in Stern never reeled Sterling in after past controversies, but it is now his job to make this situation right. As NBA commissioner Silver will oversee collective bargaining, the NBA Draft, and the NBA All-Star Game, but all of that won’t mean a thing if he doesn’t make an example of Sterling and his ignorance. If he doesn’t then Silver could lose his grip on his beloved NBA before he was even able to create one.