BREAKING NEWS: Sterling Received A Lifetime Ban & Was Fined $2.5 Million By The NBA

The fresh Hulu/FX series Clipped recounts the controversial downfall of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. It delves into his rise to wealth through a Los Angeles real estate empire, which enabled him and his wife Rochelle, also known as “Shelly,” to acquire the NBA franchise in 1981. Despite their decades-long marriage since 1955, the series reveals its imperfections, including Sterling’s extramarital affairs, notably with Alexandra Castro before the notorious involvement of V. Stiviano.

Sterling’s close ties with Jerry Buss, the iconic owner of the “Showtime” Lakers, are depicted, as seen in HBO’s recent series, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. Clipped’s first two episodes premiere exclusively on Hulu on June 4, 2024, followed by weekly releases until the finale on July 2, 2024. The series stars Ed O’Neill as Sterling, Jacki Weaver as Shelly, and Cleopatra Coleman as V. Stiviano, and it revolves around the pivotal 2013–14 NBA season, when new head coach Doc Rivers revitalized Sterling’s struggling franchise.

Clipped portrays how V. Stiviano covertly recorded her conversations with Sterling, storing labeled voice memos on her phone. Sterling lavished her with extravagant gifts, including a red Ferrari and a $1.8 million Los Angeles duplex. The recordings captured Sterling’s racially insensitive remarks, particularly his disapproval of Stiviano associating with black individuals, such as former NBA star Magic Johnson, sparking widespread condemnation within the NBA community.

In response to the leaked tapes, the NBA swiftly banned Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million, the maximum allowable penalty. Amidst the playoffs, the Clippers players, while considering a boycott, instead opted to protest by wearing their warm-up gear inside out to obscure the team logo. NBA icon LeBron James publicly voiced that there was no place for Sterling in the league.

Shelly Sterling Sold The Clippers To Steve Ballmer For $2 Billion

Despite facing widespread condemnation and a lifetime ban from the NBA, Donald Sterling adamantly refused to sell the Clippers even as the entire league called for his ousting. His reluctance forced his co-owner and wife, Shelly, to take action. With Sterling barred from entering the Clippers arena under the lifetime ban, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made it clear that if Sterling didn’t voluntarily sell the team, the matter would be put to a vote among the league’s other 29 owners, requiring a majority of 22 votes for his removal.

In an attempt to salvage his image, Sterling went on CNN with Anderson Cooper to issue an apology and defend himself against accusations of racism. However, this move only intensified Silver’s determination. He scheduled a hearing for June 3, 2014, where NBA owners would vote on Sterling’s fate. Before the hearing took place, Sterling relented and allowed Shelly to initiate negotiations for the sale of the team.

Ultimately, the Clippers were sold to current owner Steve Ballmer for a staggering $2 billion. As of June 2024, the franchise’s value has soared to an estimated $4.5–5 billion.

Sterling Unsuccessfully Sued Shelly, Adam Silver & The NBA For Damages

Even following the sale of the Clippers to Ballmer, Donald Sterling remained embroiled in legal battles. He sued his wife Shelly, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and the NBA itself, asserting that he never authorized the sale of the team and alleging collusion to defraud him. Despite his efforts to halt the sale, Shelly finalized the deal with Ballmer on August 12, 2014, effectively ending Sterling’s association with the NBA.

However, Sterling’s lawsuit was eventually dismissed by a judge in 2016. Under Ballmer’s ownership, Doc Rivers continued as head coach until 2020, leading the Clippers to multiple playoff appearances during his tenure. While the controversy surrounding V. Stiviano was undoubtedly a pivotal moment in Sterling’s career, it wasn’t his first brush with controversy. In 1982, he was heavily fined for suggesting he would manipulate team performance to secure a favorable draft pick.

Now aged 90, Sterling’s net worth is estimated to be around $4 billion.

Sterling’s Son Scott Died Of An Accidental Overdose In 2012

Before the V. Stiviano scandal and the forced sale of the team, the marriage of Donald and Shelly Sterling faced numerous challenges, including Donald filing for divorce in 2015. However, he later withdrew the petition, suggesting a reconciliation between the couple. Sterling severed ties with V. Stiviano after the controversy, while reports indicate that she has since led a quiet life away from public scrutiny.

A significant aspect not covered in the initial Clipped episodes was the tragic death of the couple’s son, Scott, who passed away at 32 due to an accidental overdose on New Year’s Eve in 2012. The series primarily focuses on V. Stiviano’s pursuit of fame and the fallout from the tape scandal, leaving Scott’s death and its potential impact on Sterling unexplored. Additionally, Sterling was reportedly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014, but there have been no public updates on his condition since then.