NBA union wants ‘immediate’ vote on Donald Sterling selling Clippers
The NBA Players Assn. wants an immediate vote from league owners on Donald Sterling selling the Clippers, the union’s first vice president, Roger Mason Jr., said Tuesday.
“We’re not quite satisfied,” Mason said during a news conference at Los Angeles City Hall.
The comments came minutes after Commissioner Adam Silver announced Sterling’s lifetime ban from the NBA and $2.5-million fine after racist comments attributed to the owner became public last week.
Full coverage: The Donald Sterling controversy
Sacramento mayor and former NBA great Kevin Johnson, who worked with the Players Assn. on the matter, tempered Mason’s demand.
“As soon as [NBA owners] can do it,” Johnson said of a timetable to end Sterling’s ownership.
Mason said players had been prepared to boycott playoff games if Silver didn’t issue a severe punishment.
The news conference appeared to mark a turning point in the often-contentious relationship between the NBA and union. Johnson described Silver as the “players’ commissioner” and praised his swift action against what Johnson called a “rotten apple” and “cancer.”
Ron Klempner, acting director of the players’ union, said Tuesday was a “transcendent” moment for the league and that he believed the ownership vote would be resolved as quickly as possible.
Twitter: @nathanfenno
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