Watch Live: NBA Addresses Donald Sterling's Racist Remarks

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Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling watches the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles.

Image: Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

By Sam Laird2014-04-29 17:50:47 UTC

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NBA commissioner Adam Silver is holding a press conference on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET where he will address racist remarks allegedly made by Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling. He is expected to address the authenticity of a voice recording released on Friday that purportedly features Sterling's voice, as well as announced possible punishments and repercussions for Sterling from the league.

Silver's conference comes as a stream of sponsors flee the Clippers, while celebrities and star players alike have called for Sterling to sell his team.

Sterling has dominated the news cycle — sports and non-sports alike — since Friday night, and Silver is under considerable public pressure to act quickly, decisively and severely. You can watch his press conference, which begins at 2 p.m. ET, right here:

Sterling has been known as a racist and disinterested franchise owner among NBA fans for years, but audio recordings released this week thrust his character and racial attitudes into the mainstream. On the leaked recording, a voice attributed to Sterling harangues someone purported to be Sterling's girlfriend about her associations with African Americans including NBA legend Magic Johnson, and tells her not to bring them to Clippers games.

The spectacle of Sterling's controversial comments and how they will be dealt with by the league — could he be the first NBA owner forced to sell his team? — have captured the imagination and indignation of many. Here was the scene before Silver's Tuesday afternoon press conference in New York City:

Spike Lee nabbed a second-row seat:

Topics: NBA, Sports, U.S., US & World