NEW YORK — Donald Sterling is arguing that the NBA has no right to take the Los Angeles Clippers away from him in his response to the league, even as his estranged wife says he has authorized her to sell the franchise.
In his response to the league, obtained and posted by USA Today, Sterling says the racist remarks that were recorded and released, leading Commissioner Adam Silver to ban him for life, were made during a private conversation and can’t be used against him.
The NBA says it received the response Tuesday and is still planning a June 3 hearing at which owners could vote to terminate Sterling’s ownership.
Meanwhile, the attorney for Shelly Sterling confirmed that Donald Sterling has given her written permission to sell the team.
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