Clippers owner Donald Sterling joined CNN’s Anderson Cooper Monday night, speaking for the first time publicly since his ban from the NBA.
Sterling was given a $2.5 million fine and a lifetime ban from all NBA activities after audio tapes of him making racist comments to a close female friend became public.
The Clippers owner told Cooper that he was “baited” into saying racist things, claiming he was jealous.
In the original audio released by TMZ, Sterling can be heard telling his friend not to post photos of herself with black men, including NBA legend Magic Johnson.
While talking to Cooper, Sterling said he feels fellow owners still support him, Clippers players love him, and he even made more personal attacks on Johnson.
Following his interview with Cooper, NBA commissioner Adam Silver released this statement:
I just read a transcript of Donald Sterling’s interview with Anderson Cooper and while Magic Johnson doesn’t need me to, I feel compelled on behalf of the NBA family to apologize to him that he continues to be dragged into this situation and be degraded by such a malicious and personal attack. The NBA Board of Governors is continuing with its process to remove Mr. Sterling as expeditiously as possible.
TheGrio put together a compilation of the most appalling things Sterling said during his interview on Anderson Cooper 360.
Check them out in the video above, and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.