LOS ANGELES, April 30 (UPI) -- Banned LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling says the team is "not for sale" despite calls for him to sell the team and leave the NBA for good.
After NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced in a press conference that he would be imposing a lifetime ban and the maximum $2.5 million fine on Sterling for racist comments, he said he would do everything in his power to force him to sell the team.
"I just spoke with Donald Sterling on the telephone just moments ago," Fox News Contributor Jim Gray reported moments before Silver's press conference. "He is unaware of what is going to happen to him. He has not been notified [of his impending punishment by Silver]. He also said he really didn't want to comment on the record, however the team is not for sale and he will not be selling the team."
Three-fourths of NBA owners must vote to force Sterling to sell his team. After Silver's announcement, several of the NBA owners rallied in support including the owners of the Jazz, Magic, Bulls, Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Timberwolves, Thunder and Raptors.
Forbes recently valued the LA Clippers franchise for $575 million.
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