Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling did an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Monday night to apologize for racist remarks he made nearly two weeks ago.
When the subject turned to Magic Johnson, though, Sterling did anything but apologize.
Sterling ripped the former NBA legend — who was the main subject of the owner’s initial racist remarks — telling Cooper that Johnson sets a bad example for the children of Los Angeles and “should be ashamed of himself.”
Players and executives across the NBA took offense to these comments, including NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who felt compelled to release a statement on Monday night defending Johnson.
“I just read a transcript of Donald Sterling’s interview with Anderson Cooper and while Magic Johnson doesn’t need me to, I feel compelled on behalf of the NBA family to apologize to him that he continues to be dragged into this situation and be degraded by such a malicious and personal attack,” Silver said.
Silver banned Sterling for life from the Clippers and the NBA and has made it very clear that he wishes to permanently end Sterling’s tenure as owner of the Clippers. He reiterated that point on Monday.
“The NBA Board of Governors is continuing with its process to remove Mr. Sterling as expeditiously as possible,” Silver said.
