Adam Silver on Robert Sarver 'Dramatically Different' From Donald Sterling

NBA commish Adam Silver is addressing comparisons between Donald Sterling and Suns owner Robert Sarver -- who was punished for allegedly saying the n-word -- calling the situations "dramatically different" from one another.

Sarver was slapped with a $10 million fine and one-year suspension on Tuesday after a lengthy NBA investigation showed the multi-millionaire owner repeated the n-word on at least five occasions and treated female employees differently, among other accusations.

The league noted Sarver didn't appear to use the word with racist intent ... but was repeating the word.

Still, many people have raised Sterling's name ... asking why the former Los Angeles Clippers owner was banned forever (he also received a $2.5 million fine), while Sarver was hit with a relatively modest 365-day suspension.

Of course, TMZ Sports broke the Sterling story in 2014 ... when the real estate developer and team owner was heard berating "friend" V. Stiviano over a photo she took with Lakers legend Magic Johnson at Staples Center during a Clips game.

"It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with Black people. Do you have to?" Sterling asked Stiviano.

Sterling also told her ... "You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games."

APRIL 2014
THE SHOCKING AUDIO
TMZSports.com

Silver explained why he believes the Sterling situation is far worse than Sarver.

"For me the situations are dramatically different. What we saw in the case of Donald Sterling was blatant racist conduct directed at a select group of people," Adam told media in NYC.

Silver also apologized to former and current Suns/Mercury employees, and spoke about the sheer shock he felt when learning of the accusations against Sarver.

"I was in disbelief to a certain extent about what I learned had transpired over the last 18 years in the Suns organization. I was saddened by it, disheartened, I want to again apologize to the former and in some cases current employees of the Phoneix Suns for what they had to experience, there's absolutely no excuse for it, and we addressed it."

Ultimately, Sterling was essentially forced to sell the team to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. Meanwhile, Sarver will be back sitting courtside before the calendar reads 2024 ... and that's not sitting right with many NBA fans.

Magic Johnson I Forgave Donald Sterling 'I Don't Keep Grudges'

HE'S OFF THE HOOK
TMZSports.com

He was the target of some of Donald Sterling's most racist and disgusting comments -- but Magic Johnson says he's forgiven the former Clippers owner ... telling TMZ Sports, "I don't keep grudges."

Not only did Sterling single Johnson out in his racist rant to V. Stiviano and order her not to be seen with Magic or any black people at Clipper games ... but he went on to say he's a terrible role model because he has HIV.

Johnson handled the whole thing with crazy amounts of class at the time -- but now that a year has passed ... we wanted to know how he feels about Sterling now .

Check out the clip ... it's another example of why Magic is one of the most greatest of all time.

Doc Rivers I'm Cool with Shelly Sterling Despite Racist Husband

I'VE GOT HER BACK
TMZSports.com

With racist ass Donald Sterling still banned from the NBA for life ... how did Doc Rivers feel about his wife Shelly sitting courtside at Clippers home games this year????

It's an interesting question ... considering Doc went on the radio this week and insinuated that Donald SABOTAGED the team by nixing several trades that would "make you fall off your chair."

So, when we saw Rivers out in L.A. yesterday ... we had to ask about the Shelly Sterling factor -- and he went on to explain why he's COOL with Mrs. Sterling still being the team's official "#1 fan."

V. Stiviano Packs Up Her Crap ... Leaves Sterling's Condo Duplex

Here are a few images that should make Shelly Sterling happy -- V. Stiviano finally moving a bunch of her crap out of the L.A. duplex that she (thought) Donald had given her for life.

The world's most infamous archivist was ordered to move out of the place and hand the keys back to the Sterlings after losing a legal war with Shelly.

Shelly had claimed Donald paid for the condo (and several expensive cars) with community money ... and had no legal right to blow such a HUGE amount of cash without Shelly's permission.

The judge agreed and ordered Stiviano to give back the duplex and the cash value of the cars ... and this week, V. got started on the moving process.

We spoke with Stiviano's attorney who tells us she's still considering if she'll file an appeal and fight the ruling -- but in the meantime, we're told she's already found a new place to live.

It's like the reverse Jeffersons ...

MOVIN' ON OUT
AKM-GSI

Shelly Sterling It Wasn't About the Money ... I Wanted to Stick It to Stiviano!

Shelly Sterling says she didn't go after V. Stiviano for the money -- SHE WANTED JUSTICE -- and says she plans to give away every single cent she won in her crushing court victory to a charity.

Our sources say ... Shelly was "out for blood" from the start -- and really wanted to put the screws to Stiviano for all the crap she put her family through.

In fact, Shelly told the Associated Press ... her lawsuit was about getting even with Stiviano who had "harmed" her in so many ways.

Of course, Sterling won a $2.6 million judgment against Stiviano -- ordering her to fork over the keys to her $1.8 million condo AND $800,000 in cash.

Sterling says she doesn't even want the money -- 'cause she's a billionaire -- and to prove it, she's giving every cent to a worthy charity.

How benevolent.

Donald Sterling Side Piece Ordered to Return $2.6 Mil

Donald Sterling had no right to shower V. Stiviano with lavish gifts, no matter how good of an archivist she was, because the loot he used to buy all the goodies wasn't his to give away.

A judge just sided with Shelly Sterling, concluding Shelly was still very much Donald's wife when he pulled his shenanigans -- giving V. a duplex, a Bentley, a Range Rover and a Ferrari totaling $2.6 mil.

But don't roll out the tow truck -- Shelly doesn't want the cars ... she wants the money. According to the ruling, $830k of the $2.6 mil is due in cash -- with $430k earmarked for the value of the vehicles.

V. tried in vain to convince the judge Donald and Shelly were separated at the time she scored the goods, so he had every right to shell out the cash. The judge begged to differ, saying Donald had no right to use the Sterling money to fund V.'s lifestyle.

So the question ... how does V. make it right?

Return, return, return.

Donald Sterling Ultimate Cash Cab ... Billionaire Hails Taxi

Here's something you don't see every day ... a multi-billionaire hailing a cab.

Donald Sterling -- who recently sold the L.A. Clippers for $2 BILLION -- was out in Bev Hills Wednesday when he decided to catch a cab to go home.

Interesting, considering most billionaires in this city either drive themselves ... or use a private chauffeur ... or at least use Uber LUX if they're gonna hit the town.

But not Sterling ... who quietly got in the back seat and was quickly whisked away.

Weird, right?

Kurupt Donald Sterling Got Screwed 'He's a Great Guy'

In today's episode of "Things You Never Thought A Black Guy Would Say" ... West Coast hip hop legend Kurupt is going to tell us what a great guy the NBA lost in ... Donald Sterling.

Here's the thing ... he's not kidding.

During the 5-minute interview with vladtv.com ... the rapper praises Sterling as a "great guy" -- who got screwed over by the NBA.

"They took a good man down," Kurupt says with a straight face ... despite the fact Sterling said on-tape that he didn't want V. Stiviano bringing black people to Clippers games.

Kurupt also explains his friendship with Stiviano ... and defends her too.

FYI -- Kurupt's making his living these days by pushing medical marijuana in L.A.

It must be really, really, really, good.

Donald Sterling It's Scary Being Santa in Tha Hood Backs Out of Toy Drive

Donald Sterling pulled out of a charity toy drive in Watts Saturday night ... because his security team feared for his safety in the hood with racial tensions running so high across the country.

TMZ Sports broke the story -- Sterling was scheduled to show up for something called the Chrismukkah Soiree "Party in the Projects." But a rep for the ex-owner of the Clippers tells us he abruptly canceled after we posted the story.

Apparently, Sterling wanted his appearance to be a surprise. We're told his security team was worried too many people knew where he was going to be -- and considering his track record with the black community ... things could go south quickly.

Donald's rep says he still donated a sedan-full of toys during a Friday night event held in a much more ... Sterling-safe environment -- Beverly Hills.

L.A. City Councilman Joe Buscaino -- who reps Watts -- probably didn't help matters by coming on TMZ Live, and demanding Sterling stay away ... unless he's ready to donate much more than toys.

Donald Sterling SUED OVER BEDBUGS [Also Accused of More Racism]

An angry black man is suing Donald Sterling ... claiming he tried to sleep tight in one of Donald's L.A. apartment buildings ... only to have the bedbugs bite!

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ Sports, Darryl Williams says he was living in an apartment in Donald's Reno Country Club building a while back when the bedbugs took over.

Williams says he complained to management about the problem ... but Donald's company blew him off because he's black ... and we all know how Sterling feels about black people.

Darryl claims his family was not only forced to "suffer from the infestation" -- but they were eventually EVICTED from the property.

Now, Williams is suing for physical and emotional injuries. We reached out to Sterling for comment -- so far, no word back.

Shelly Sterling Donald's Still a Huge Clippers Fan ... We Want Rings!!!

The players hate his guts. The coaches hate his guts. The fans hate his guts ... but Donald Sterling is still a HUUUGE Clippers fan -- so says his wife Shelly.

Shelly and Donald had dinner TOGETHER last night at The Palm in Beverly Hills ... and on the way out, Shelly was in an extremely bubbly mood!!

That's when she told us Donald's still rooting the team that turned against him for being a tremendous racist. The team that's tried everything in its power to erase him from its memory.

Oh, and check out her answer when we ask if she's worried about the Lakers.

Alfred E. Neuman would be proud.

Dave Chappelle Donald Sterling Got Screwed Shouldn't Have Lost the Clippers

Dave Chappelle is DEFENDING Donald Sterling ... claiming the disgraced former L.A. Clippers owner got screwed when his team was ripped away from him.

Chappelle opened up about the topic in an interview with GQ ... saying, "Ultimately, I don’t think he should have lost his team."

"I don’t like the idea that someone could record a secret conversation and that a person could lose their assets from that, even though I think what he said was awful."

Of course, Sterling was banned from the NBA for life -- and Commissioner Adam Silver said he did everything in his power to force a sale of the team in the wake of Sterling's racist comments.

Sterling fought the sale ... but eventually, a judge allowed Donald's wife Shelly to unload the team to Steve Ballmer for $2 BILLION.

Chappelle's opinion lines up with Bill Maher -- who also defended Sterling's right to free speech back in May ... and took serious heat over it.

The big question ... why would someone as influential as Chappelle wait so long to go public with such a strong point of view? Kinda too little, too late.

Tune in next summer when he chimes in on Ray Rice.

Shelly Sterling Attends Clippers Game ... As Team's #1 Fan

With her racist husband banned from the arena, Shelly Sterling hit up Staples Center in L.A. last night to watch the Clippers play ... under new management.

As we previously reported, Shelly demanded to be recognized as the team's "Owner Emeritus" and "Clippers' Number 1 Fan" when she sold the team to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion ... and it seems like Steve is a man of his word.

Shelly sat right on the court during the Clip's victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder ... and cheered on all of the people who hate her husband.

We spoke with several Staples Center employees who tell us they had no problem with Shelly being at the game -- because they feel the beef isn't really with her ... it's with Donald.

Blake Griffin RIPS Donald Sterling 'He Was Like A Weird Uncle'

Blake Griffin says he's THRILLED the Clips are finally rid of Donald Sterling -- saying the guy was "like a weird uncle" who was clearly "off his rocker."

Griffin just spilled his guts about his former boss on The Players Tribune -- saying his relationship with Sterling was bizarre from day 1 ... when the old man tried to hook him up with two women at a Malibu beach party who were likely paid escorts.

"Two blonde models showed up on either side of me. They had clearly been hired for the event. I knew this because they were wearing size XXXX-L Clippers T-shirts tied at the stomach. I looked at Sterling. He had a big dumb grin on his face. I looked at one of the girls, as if to say, “Uhhh, you don’t have to do this.” She looked back: “Uhhh, yes I do."

In the article, Griffin also talks about how he felt the first time he heard the infamous Sterling audio recording -- saying:

"It was shocking to actually hear what he said, but not really that surprising to me."

There's more about Sterling ... here are some of the highlights:

-- "The guy was off his rocker."
-- "He kind of sounds like a combination of Walter Matthau and Michael Jackson."
-- "[Steve Ballmer] is a good dude. He’s like a cool dad who gives you candy. Donald was like a weird uncle"

Griffin concluded his tell-all with this nugget:

"Someone asked me the other day if I’m mad that he made out with $2 billion for selling the team. Maybe a little bit. But in the end, I’m just happy he’s gone."

Shelly Sterling 911 Call An 'African Black' Is Tormenting My Husband (AUDIO)

Shelly Sterling dialed 911 the second she found out Donald Sterling was home alone with V. Stiviano -- and told the operator a woman she described as "African black" had broken into her house.

On the October 1 call -- obtained by TMZ -- Shelly says her gardener saw V. going in a side door of the Sterling mansion ... and she was in a bedroom with Donald.

By the way, Shelly was in France while this was all going down, but repeatedly tells the operator ... V. is "tormenting" Donald.

In the bedroom? We doubt it, but you gotta hear Shelly explain why police have to race to the house ... WITHOUT calling Donald. It's tricky.

Doc Rivers Is Adam Silver a Better Commish Than Roger Goodell?

Doc Rivers is no stranger to national controversy (see: Donald Sterling) ... so the question we had to ask -- could NBA Commissioner Adam Silver have handled the Ray Rice situation better than Roger Goodell?

Of course, Silver was hailed as a hero for his swift and thorough handling of the Sterling scandal -- when he sent a team of NBA investigators to L.A. ... who quickly gathered facts and independently verified the authenticity of the Sterling recordings.

On the other hand, Goodell is being accused of bungling the Rice case -- after admitting he screwed up on Ray's initial punishment and claiming he was never able to get his hands on the elevator security footage.

As for Doc ... watch the video, he doesn't attack Goodell -- but makes it clear, he's THRILLED to have Silver as his Commish.

Old news is old news!
Be First!

Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser!