Report: NBA Believes It Has Legal Authority to Force Sterling's Wife to Sell

Report: NBA Believes It Has Legal Authority to Force Sterling's Wife to Sell

The NBA believes it has the legal authority to also force Los Angeles Clippers owner Shelly Sterling to also sell her stake in the team.

According to an EPSN report, “the NBA believes it has the legal grounds to oust both Shelly Sterling and her husband as owners, despite the fact that commissioner Adam Silver’s punishments were specifically leveled only against Donald, according to sources with knowledge of the league’s legal strategy”:

… the league’s contention will be that Shelly Sterling — while entitled to a 50 percent interest in the franchise — has never been approved by the board of governors as the controlling owner. She and team president Andy Roeser, who went on an indefinite leave of absence this week, were only alternate governors.

ESPN noted that “to become the team’s new controlling owner, Shelly Sterling would have to be approved by the board of governors, which is unlikely given her association with her husband of 58 years.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Donald Sterling for life for making racist comments on an audio recording about “black people” and players have indicated they may boycott games next year if the Sterling still own the team.

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