LA Clippers forced sale (2014)
After audio leaked of owner Donald Sterling making racist remarks, the NBA banned him for life and forced the sale of the Clippers. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer purchased the franchise for $2 billion.
Sterling was stripped of ownership, and Ballmer's purchase became the benchmark NBA sale price.
The incident established that franchise owners must meet league standards of conduct; it also raised the financial stakes for ownership credentialing.
It demonstrates the NBA's power to intervene on cultural issues when they become public. If Shelley and Vasquez's allegations gain traction, the league could face pressure to investigate the Warriors' front office beyond just a court case.
