If NBA Commissioner Adam Silver seemed especially forceful and confident when handing down Donald Sterling's lifetime ban on Tuesday, it was probably because he knew he had the unanimous backing of every owner in the league.
Silver dropped the hammer on Sterling as punishment for racist comments the now-banned Los Angeles Clippers owner allegedly made, levying the harshest punishments allowed by the NBA's constitution and by-laws.
There's no question Silver was within his authority to fine Sterling. He derived that authority from Article 24, subsection (l) of the league's constitution, which reads:
The Commissioner shall, wherever there is a rule for which no penalty is specifically fixed for violation thereof, have the authority to fix such penalty as in the Commissioner’s judgment shall be in the best interests of the Association. Where a situation arises which is not covered in the Constitution and By-Laws, the Commissioner shall have the authority to make such decision, including the imposition of a penalty, as in his judgment shall be in the best interests of the Association. The penalty that may be assess ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Grant Hughes
NBA Owners Universally Support Adam Silver’s Punishment of Donald Sterling
April 29th, 2014 by Grant Hughes Leave a reply »
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