Watch CBS News

Latest Accusations Against Donald Sterling Far From His First Racial Controversy

LOS ANGELES (CBS13) — The latest allegations against Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling are far from the first time he's been accused of racism.

According to one report, Sterling once told a coaching candidate, "I wanna know how you think you can coach these n------."

That alleged incident happened roughly 30 years before the a recording of him telling a woman not to bring black people to basketball games.

The billionaire real estate mogul has twice settled housing discrimination lawsuits, including a 2003 suit accusing Sterling of refusing to rent to Latinos and African-Americans.

A property supervisor testified Sterling said the following:

"That's because of all the blacks in this building; they smell; they're not clean."

"And it's because of all the Mexicans that just sit around and smoke and drink all day."

and "Is she one of those black people that stink? Just evict the b----."

Sterling allegedly believed Korean-Americans were the best tenants, because they "will live in whatever conditions he gives them and still pay the rent without complaint."

The Department of Justice sued Sterling in 2006, alleging his companies wouldn't rent to African-Americans or families with children. Sterling denied wrongdoing, but agreed in 2009 to pay a record $2.765 million.

Given all of this, NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul Jabbar says the new alleged tape is no shock.

"Because I just was aware of his track record, the discrimination suits against minority people, trying to rent some of his properties," he said.

Former Clippers general manager and Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor filed an explosive wrongful termination suit in 2010.

During contract negotiations with then-Clipper Danny Manning, Baylor alleges Sterling said. "I'm offering a lot of money for a poor black kid."

Baylor said because of "Sterling's vision of a Southern Plantation type structure ... Sterling wanted the Clippers team to be composed of 'Poor black boys from the South and a white head coach.'"

Sterling has also been sued for sexual harassment in 1996.

Through it all, the Clippers owner has never been disciplined by the NBA, but that could change after a Tuesday NBA press conference.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.