Reaction around NBA swift to Donald Sterling’s alleged racial comments

Reaction was widespread Saturday after the NBA said the league is launching an investigation into a report of an audio recording in which a man identified as Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling allegedly tells a woman not to bring black people to games.

--NBA spokesman Mike Bass called the comments “disturbing and offensive.”

--Miami Heat star LeBron James called the comments “appalling” and James said he was not sure if he would play the remainder of the NBA playoffs if he was on the Clippers.

“There’s no room for Donald Sterling in the NBA,” James said Saturday before a playoff game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

James said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver should take swift action if the comments are found to be made by Sterling.

Related: Read the Clippers’ statement on the remarks

James says: “I have kind of wavered back and forth if I would actually sit out” the playoffs.

--Kobe Bryant tweeted: “I couldn’t play for him”

--Indiana Pacers forward David West tweeted: “All this sterling outrage speaks to how naive and gullible folks have become about race”

--Former Clippers star guard Baron Davis tweeted about Sterling: “Been going on for a long time, Hats off 2 the Team.. 4 playin above it all.”

--Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said Saturday: “As far as the comments, we’re not happy with them.”

--On TNT’s halftime studio show Saturday, analyst and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said: “This is the first test of Adam Silver. He’s got to suspend him [Sterling] right now. First of all, they’ve got to prove that’s his voice on that tape. But this is the first big test for Adam Silver.”

--San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said: “The comments are obviously disgusting.”

--Anthony Morrow, a guard with the New Orleans Pelicans, tweeted about Sterling: “He’s had multiple complaints against him over the last 20 years, but it took this To happen for them to ‘influence’ him to sell the team.

“Those old roots of racism are a little deeper than I thought, but I thank God my kids won’t have to experience it like my parents did. #Growth”