10 Scandals the NBA wants you to forget

#1 Donald Sterling

Donald Sterling

As the Los Angeles Clippers were enjoying their face off against the Golden State Warriors in the 2014 Playoffs, their plainly racist owner had other plans behind the scenes.

He was recorded by his mistress (V. Stiviano)-of African American and Mexican descent, making racist comments about black people. Stiviano had posted a photo of herself with Magic Johnson on Instagram. The photo irritated him, and he had the following out of his chest:

“-- 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.”

The Clippers were only ready for the playoffs, clearly not for both. They took care of the short-handed Warriors in the first round. He had caused a National outcry. Players in the NBA united against Sterling’s comments by wearing their jerseys inside out, forcing the NBA’s hand in the matter.

He was banned from the NBA for life and fined $2.5 million and was forced to sell the team for $2 billion to Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.