Sterling is officially out as the owner after his racially insensitive remarks created a public outcry and forced the NBA to take action to ultimately remove him from a team he had purchased in 1981. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
After four months of legal challenges and threats from Donald Sterling, the Los Angeles Clippers have finally changed hands.
The sale of the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 million was legally closed Tuesday. Sterling is officially out as the owner after his racially insensitive remarks created a public outcry and forced the NBA to take action to ultimately remove him from a team he had purchased in 1981.
A California court issued an order confirmed that Sterling’s wife, Shelly, had the legal right to sell the franchise on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust.
“The NBA Board of Governors previously approved the sale and Ballmer is now the Clippers Governor,” the league said in a news release.
Ballmer paid the largest sum in NBA history for a franchise. He mostly stayed out of the way as Sterling, his wife, NBA owners and commissioner Adam Silver wrangled over the sale of the team.
