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NBA roundup: Sterling allowing wife to sell team
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling agreed to let his estranged wife Shelly Sterling sell the team, according to multiple reports Friday.
The NBA is forcing Donald Sterling to sell the Clippers after he made racist comments on an audio recording that was obtained by TMZ in April.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Sterling’s ex-girlfriend, V. Stiviano, who secretly recorded a conversation in which he made the remarks, initially sent the recording to the Clippers.
Stiviano claimed in April that she sent the recording to friends for “safekeeping” and that one of them may have sold it to TMZ.
The NBA banned Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million on April 29. Sterling responded by saying he will not sell the team and threatened to sue the NBA to keep the Clippers.
However, reports surfaced Friday that the matter could be resolved surprisingly quickly. Shelly Sterling and her lawyers have been negotiating with the NBA since her husband was banned.
While Sterling is allowing his wife to sell the team, the NBA has not formally accepted the offer. The NBA wants the Sterlings to give up 100 percent of the team. Sterling has until Tuesday to respond to the NBA. The league then is scheduled to take action on June 3 during a hearing in New York that will involve all NBA owners.
—Indiana Pacers forward Paul George said he has been “symptom-free” for two days after sustaining a concussion, but he has not been cleared by the team to play.
Pacers coach Frank Vogel said George is a game-time decision for Saturday’s contest against the Miami Heat. The Eastern Conference finals series is tied 1-1.
George still needs to go through more tests and rest before he can be cleared to play.
—The Oklahoma City Thunder are holding out hope that injured power forward Serge Ibaka will be able to return during the Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Ibaka was expected to miss the series with a calf injury. He sustained the injury during the Thunder’s second-round series clincher over the Los Angeles Clippers last week. The Thunder said Ibaka has made progress after testing his calf.
The Spurs lead the best-of-7 series 2-0. Game 3 is Sunday in Oklahoma City.
—Charlotte Hornets guard Gerald Henderson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist to remove scar tissue.
The surgery was performed at the Duke University Medical Center by Dr. David Ruch. Henderson’s wrist will be immobilized for about two weeks before he begins rehabbing it.
