The name Donald Sterling is synonymous with one of the most explosive scandals in NBA history. Once the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers for three decades, Sterling was banished from the league for life in 2014 after racist remarks he made were made public. He was also forced to sell his beloved team, a punishment he initially fought tooth and nail, branding the NBA leadership as “despicable monsters.” He even vowed to sue the league for the rest of his days. But years have passed, and the fiery persona Sterling once projected seems to have cooled. So, Where Is Donald Sterling Now, and what has become of the man at the center of such a dramatic fall from grace?
Image: Donald Sterling and V. Stiviano watch the Clippers play the Sacramento Kings
From Outcast to Content? Donald Sterling Today
In a surprising turn, the Donald Sterling of today seems a far cry from the combative figure who once threatened to bring the NBA to its knees. Approaching the third anniversary of the Clippers’ $2 billion sale, Sterling, now 83, shared a remarkably different perspective in telephone conversations with NBC News. He described the NBA as “a great league,” the Clippers as “a great team,” and even Adam Silver, the commissioner he once vilified, as a “wonderful leader.” This is a stark contrast to the man who once saw the NBA as “a band of hypocrites and bullies.”
This mellowed demeanor suggests a significant shift for a man who once appeared ready for a lifetime of legal battles. Sterling, who shocked the world with his racist comments, now claims to have moved beyond the controversies of the past. “I am as happy as I have ever been. I am as comfortable as I have ever been,” Sterling stated, emphasizing his desire to maintain his current peace of mind. “And I don’t want to do anything to disturb that.”
Shelly Sterling’s Unfinished Business: Lifting the Ban
While Donald Sterling himself appears to have accepted his NBA fate, his wife, Shelly Sterling, remains focused on one lingering aspect of the scandal: the lifetime ban. Despite Donald’s seeming indifference, Shelly, also 83, has taken it upon herself to seek a resolution with the NBA. She has personally reached out to Commissioner Adam Silver and had her lawyer, Pierce O’Donnell, contact the league office to explore the possibility of lifting the ban.
Shelly Sterling clarified that her motivation is not to pave the way for her husband’s return to NBA business dealings. Instead, her aim is to clear his name and acknowledge his 33 years as a team owner. She and her attorney argue that the lifetime ban was an excessive punishment, especially considering the forced sale of the Clippers and the $2.5 million fine Sterling incurred. “I couldn’t understand the severity of the ban. It just seemed a little bit out of line,” Shelly Sterling explained. She admits uncertainty about the NBA’s response, saying, “Maybe they will and maybe they won’t [lift the ban]. Maybe it takes a little bit more time.”
Pierce O’Donnell confirmed that he contacted NBA chief counsel Richard Buchanan at Shelly’s request. He emphasized that Shelly initiated these efforts independently of Donald, who, in his interview, seemed detached from the issue of the ban, even stating, “A ban? I don’t even know what that means. But I think my time has passed.”
The Rationale Behind the Ban and the Rejection of Leniency
The NBA’s severe sanctions against Donald Sterling stemmed from a recording made by his companion, V. Stiviano, where Sterling was heard making racist remarks about African Americans, specifically objecting to Stiviano associating with black people at Clippers games. These comments ignited a firestorm of public outrage and prompted swift action from the NBA.
Commissioner Adam Silver acted decisively, banning Sterling for life, imposing a substantial fine, and initiating the process to force the sale of the Clippers franchise. These were the harshest penalties ever levied against a professional sports owner in the United States, reflecting the gravity of Sterling’s offense and the NBA’s commitment to zero tolerance for racism.
Despite Shelly Sterling’s appeals for leniency, reminding the NBA of a lighter penalty given to MLB owner Marge Schott for racist and anti-Semitic remarks, the league has remained unmoved. O’Donnell recounted that NBA lawyer Richard Buchanan dismissed the possibility of lifting the ban, stating unequivocally, “Pierce, you know that’s a non-starter.”
Life After Basketball: Charity, Beverly Hills, and Moving On
Unable to attend Clippers games in person, Donald Sterling remains a dedicated viewer, watching games on television from his Beverly Hills home or wherever he may be. While details are scarce, Sterling claims to be increasingly focused on his philanthropic endeavors.
The forced sale of the Clippers, initially a source of immense anger for Sterling, now appears to be viewed in a different light. He even suggests it was financially advantageous, believing he secured a higher price due to the circumstances. He speaks positively of Steve Ballmer, the former Microsoft CEO who purchased the team, describing him as “a very good man, a very sweet man.” Sterling recounted Ballmer’s eagerness to buy the Clippers, quoting him as saying, “I am going to buy the team no matter what it costs.” With a chuckle, Sterling added, “I am not so sure he should have said that.”
Image: Donald Sterling
Shelly Sterling echoes this sentiment, expressing relief from the pressures of team ownership. “I think that, really, at this stage of his life, he is happy, not at the way that it happened, but that he got so much money for it,” she said. “He could have never sold it today at that price… We never know when we are going through it, but sometimes, through tragedy, comes happiness.” Even paparazzi photos of Sterling out and about in Beverly Hills suggest a man enjoying a life of leisure, far removed from the controversies that once engulfed him.
In conclusion, where is Donald Sterling now? He resides primarily in Beverly Hills, seemingly at peace with his post-NBA life. While the lifetime ban remains a point of contention for his wife, Donald Sterling himself appears to have moved on, finding contentment and perhaps even unexpected benefits in the aftermath of the Clippers scandal.
