Actually, Donald Sterling Never Dropped His Lawsuit Against the NBA
Donald Sterling will not go away. Initial reports claimed that Sterling was dropping his lawsuit against the NBA in full, allowing the sale of the Clippers to move forward. However, it looks like he never did that.
.Donald Sterling will not go away. Initial reports claimed last week that Sterling was dropping his lawsuit against the NBA in full, allowing the sale of the L.A. Clippers to move forward. However, it looks like he never did that.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said yesterday that the Clippers sale to former Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer has not been finalized because of Sterling's $1 billion lawsuit against the NBA and Silver.
The details of the lawsuit are murky, to say the least, and no one seems to agree on exactly what's happening. Here's a brief history (you can check out the complete timeline of Sterling drama here):
May 15th: Donald Sterling wants to sue the NBA
May 23rd: Donald Sterling doesn't want to sue the NBA
May 28th 12:11 PM: Donald Sterling wants to sue the NBA, Sterling's lawyer says he will fight to the "bloody end."
May 28th 6:20 PM: Donald Sterling really promises he isn't suing the NBA
May 29th: Steve Ballmer agrees to buy the Clippers
May 30th 5:27 PM: Sterling is still suing the NBA for $1 billion
May 30th 8:58 PM: NBA approves Clippers sale, under the condition Sterling isn't suing the NBA anymore
June 4th: Sterling says he isn't suing the NBA anymore
And, today, it turns out Sterling is ... still suing the NBA. Sterling's lawyer, Max Blecher (who did say Sterling would fight to the "bloody end") said several days ago that Sterling would withdraw the lawsuit, but the NBA claims they never went through with the withdrawal.
Silver said, "We're almost there. There is this last piece, and that is the lawsuit that Donald brought against the League and me personally."
But as it turns out, there might not be plans to withdraw the suit at all. Blecher told Reuters via email that no decision had been made on the lawsuit and all options were under consideration.
Shelly Sterling took legal ownership of the team, and as part of her sales agreement, she agreed to indemnify the NBA in the event her estranged husband goes through with the lawsuit.
"I have absolute confidence it will be resolved because as part of the sale agreement with Shelly Sterling, she agreed to indemnify the league against a lawsuit by her husband. So in essence, Donald is suing himself and he knows that. While I understand he is frustrated, I think it's over," Silver said.