NBA owners committee to hold first discussions on Sterling removal

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The NBA owners’ advisory and finance committee will hold a meeting Thursday to discuss the next steps in the removal of Donald Sterling as owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 10-member committee will have a conference call two days after Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life from the league and fined him $2.5 million for making racist comments. Silver also said he would urge owners to use their power to force Sterling to sell the team.

That would require the support of three-fourths of the league’s owners in a vote. Silver said Tuesday during a news conference that he was confident he had the votes, which appears true given the numerous statements of support that were released by teams.

Minnesota owner Glen Taylor chairs the committee, which also includes Miami’s Micky Arison, the Lakers’ Jeanie Buss, Oklahoma City’s Clay Bennett, New York’s James Dolan, Boston’s Wyc Grousbeck, San Antonio’s Peter Holt, Phoenix’s Robert Sarver, Indiana’s Herb Simon, and Toronto’s Larry Tanenbaum.