NBA: Shelly Sterling agrees sale of Los Angeles Clipper to ex-Microsoft CEO
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has agreed to buy the Los Angeles Clippers for a record-breaking $2billion.
Last Updated: 30/05/14 9:47am
Shelly Sterling confirmed that she had signed a binding contract for a sale of the Clippers by The Sterling Family Trust to Ballmer in what would be a record deal if approved by the NBA.
However her husband Donald Sterling could yet scupper the deal as he is insisting he has a right to veto any sale - and has no intention of selling-up.
Sterling said: "We have worked for 33 years to build the Clippers into a premier NBA franchise. I am confident that Steve will take the team to new levels of success."
Sterling negotiated the sale after her husband Donald made racist remarks that were made public. The remarks included Sterling telling his girlfriend not to bring black people to Clippers games, specifically mentioning Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
Honoured
Her statement claims that she made the deal "under her authority as the sole trustee of The Sterling Family Trust, which owns the Clippers".
Her husband's lawyers contend that he is a co-owner and therefore must give his assent for the deal to go through - and they insist he is not planning on selling.
"Sterling is not selling the team," said his attorney, Bobby Samini. "That's his position. He's not going to sell."
Ballmer said in a statement that he is honoured to have his name submitted to the NBA for approval and thanked the league for working collaboratively with him throughout the process.
"I love basketball. And I intend to do everything in my power to ensure that the Clippers continue to win and win big in Los Angeles," Ballmer said. "LA is one of the world's great cities - a city that embraces inclusiveness, in exactly the same way that the NBA and I embrace inclusiveness."
Magic Johnson lauded the deal on his Twitter account: "Steve Ballmer owning the Clippers is a big win for the City of LA and all the people who live in the City of Angels!"