http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10954789/nba-initiates-charge-los-angeles-clippers-owner-donald-sterlingNEW YORK --
The NBA charged Donald Sterling on Monday with damaging the league and its teams with his racist comments, and it set a hearing for June 3, after which owners will vote to decide the future of his ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers.The league also said the banned owner has engaged in other conduct that has impaired its relationship with fans and merchandising partners.
The owners' vote will take place after the hearing, which will be held in New York.
Sources with knowledge of the NBA's legal strategy tell ESPN.com that Sterling's comments from a CNN interview with Anderson Cooper are included as part of the basis for the charge to remove him and the ownership group. The charge relates to the TMZ audio recording and acts related to that recording, including the CNN interview.
"All of these acts provide grounds for termination under several provisions of the NBA constitution and related agreements," the league said in a statement.
Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, the chairman of the board, will preside over the hearing, which is planned for two days before the start of the NBA Finals. If three-fourths of the owners vote to sustain the charge, Sterling will be forced to sell the team he has owned since 1981.
Silver has said he is confident he has the votes.
Sterling and his lawyer, Maxwell Blecher, received written notification of the charges Monday. Blecher has declined comment through his law firm.
Sterling was banned for life and fined $2.5 million by commissioner Adam Silver after the release of a recording in which he made racist remarks. He has until May 27 to respond to the charge and the right to appear at the hearing and make a presentation in front of the board of governors.
Sterling told a female friend, V. Stiviano, not to bring black people to Clippers games during their conversation that was recorded. Sterling specifically mentioned Magic Johnson and then criticized the NBA Hall of Famer as a poor role model during a recent interview with CNN.
"Among other things, Mr. Sterling disparaged African-Americans and 'minorities'; directed a female acquaintance not to associate publicly with African-Americans or to bring African-Americans to Clippers games; and criticized African-Americans for not supporting their communities," the NBA said.
The league also charged Sterling with issuing a false and misleading press statement about the matter.
Article 13 of the NBA's constitution, which deals with termination of ownership, states that one of the conditions is if an ownership fails or refuses "to fulfill its contractual obligations to the Association, its members, players, or any other third party in such a way as to affect the Association or its members adversely."
A number of sponsors suspended deals with the Clippers in the wake of Sterling's remarks, potentially hurting league revenues, and players have said they would consider a boycott next season if Sterling was still an owner.
"Mr. Sterling's actions and positions significantly undermine the NBA's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion; damage the NBA's relationship with its fans; harm NBA owners, players and Clippers team personnel; and impair the NBA's relationship with marketing and merchandising partners, as well as with government and community leaders," the league said.
If Sterling does not respond to the charge within five business days or appear at the hearing, it would be deemed an admission of the "total validity of the charges as presented," according to the constitution.
But even the players who want him out believe Sterling will fight, and his attorney sent a letter to the league last week informing it that Sterling wouldn't be paying the fine. Blecher also said Sterling will sue if not afforded due process.
Sterling's estranged wife, Shelly, has said she will fight to keep her 50 percent share of the team even if Sterling is forced to sell, but the league said in its statement that "all ownership interests in the Clippers will be terminated" if the charge is upheld.
Shelly Sterling's lawyer, Pierce O'Donnell, released a statement on Monday.
"We have just received the voluminous charges and are beginning the process of carefully reviewing them," O'Donnell said. "Based on our initial assessment, we continue to believe there is no lawful basis for stripping Shelly Sterling of her 50 percent ownership interest in the Clippers. She is the innocent estranged spouse. We also continue to hope that we can resolve this dispute with the NBA for the good of all constituencies."
Information from ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne, ESPN.com's Darren Rovell and The Associated Press was used in this report.
